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flag1

  • noun 1 an oblong piece of cloth that is raised on or attached to a pole and used as an emblem or marker. 2 a device or symbol resembling a flag, used as a marker. 3 a small paper badge given to people who donate to a charity appeal.

  • verb (flagged, flagging) 1 mark for attention. 2 direct or alert by waving a flag or using hand signals. 3 (flag down) signal to (a driver) to stop.

  — PHRASES fly the flag 1 (of a ship) be registered in a particular country and sail under its flag. 2 represent one’s country or demonstrate one’s affiliation with a party or organization. put the flags out celebrate.

  — ORIGIN perhaps from obsolete flag drooping, of unknown origin.

 

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