flops

[flops] /flɒps/
noun
1.
a measure of computer speed, equal to the number of floating-point operations the computer can perform per second (used especially in combination with mega-, giga-, tera-).
Origin
1985-90; fl(oating-point) op(erations per) s(econd)

flop

[flop] /flɒp/
verb (used without object), flopped, flopping.
1.
to fall or plump down suddenly, especially with noise; drop or turn with a sudden bump or thud (sometimes followed by down):
The puppy flopped down on the couch.
2.
to change suddenly, as from one side or party to another (often followed by over).
3.
to be a complete failure; fail:
The play flopped dismally.
4.
Informal. to sleep or be lodged:
to flop at a friend's house.
5.
to swing loosely; bounce; flap:
His long hair flops in his eyes when he runs.
verb (used with object), flopped, flopping.
6.
to drop with a sudden bump or thud:
He flopped his books on a chair.
7.
to dispose (oneself) in a heavily negligent manner:
to flop oneself in a chair.
8.
to invert (the negative of a photograph) so that the right and left sides are transposed.
noun
9.
an act of flopping.
10.
the sound of flopping; a thud.
11.
a failure:
The new comedy was a flop.
12.
Informal. a place to sleep; temporary lodging:
The mission offered a flop and a free breakfast.
Origin
1595-1605; 1890-95 for def 11; variant of flap
Related forms
flopper, noun
Synonyms
11. fiasco, disaster, debacle; bomb, dog.
Examples from the web for flops
  • The point that science flips flops back and forth on what is safe in not moot.
  • It is a casual town: jeans, shorts and flip-flops are the norm.
  • Last spring's businesses sold flip-flops, speakers, and chocolates.
  • The resulting tensions have sometimes led to policy flip-flops.
  • And a walkway between the groups of jets lets visitors get close to the action without having to put on swimsuits and flip-flops.
  • Unless a record label has a good sense of what people want to hear, it could be buying airtime for flops.
  • That's walking dangerously-better slip on your flip-flops to avoid the cops.
  • But you're more likely to go running in running shoes than if you are wearing flip-flops or snow boots.
  • Watchtower doctrinal structure has had many flip-flops and back ups.
  • But as soon as it flops into the flat state, its contacts with all the bricks around it will hold it there.
British Dictionary definitions for flops

flops

noun acronym
1.
floating-point operations per second: used as a measure of computer processing power (in combination with a prefix): megaflops, gigaflops

flop

/flɒp/
verb flops, flopping, flopped
1.
(intransitive) to bend, fall, or collapse loosely or carelessly: his head flopped backwards
2.
when intr, often foll by into, onto, etc. to fall, cause to fall, or move with a sudden noise: the books flopped onto the floor
3.
(intransitive) (informal) to fail; be unsuccessful: the scheme flopped
4.
(intransitive) to fall flat onto the surface of water, hitting it with the front of the body
5.
(slang) (intransitive) often foll by out. to go to sleep
noun
6.
the act of flopping
7.
(informal) a complete failure
8.
(US & Canadian, slang) a place to sleep
9.
(athletics) See Fosbury flop
10.
(poker) the flop, the first three community cards dealt face-up in a round of any of several varieties of poker, including Texas hold 'em
Word Origin
C17: variant of flap
Word Origin and History for flops

flop

v.

c.1600, probably a variant of flap with a duller, heavier sound. Sense of "fall or drop heavily" is 1836, that of "collapse, fail" is 1919; though the figurative noun sense of "a failure" is recorded from 1893. Related: Flopped; flopping.

n.

1823, in the literal sense, from flop (v.). Figurative use by 1893.

Slang definitions & phrases for flops

flop

noun
  1. A place to sleep, esp a cheap and sordid hotel or shelter; flophouse: I went into the flops and the shelters and was shocked/ in a three-dollar-a-week flop
  2. : My great idea was a total flop
verb
  1. To lie down for rest or sleep; sleep; crash: ''Kip,'' ''doss,'' ''flop,'' ''pound your ear,'' all mean to sleep (1907+ Hoboes)
  2. To fail completely; bomb: The show flopped, ran one night only (1893+)
  3. To transfer a police officer from one station to another, one assignment to another, etc: That's funny. Abbott's giving me advice and he's about to be flopped (1980s+ Police)
Related Terms

belly flop


flops in Technology


Floating-point operations per second.

benchmark
The MFLOPS benchmark.

Related Abbreviations for flops

flops

floating-point operations per second

flop

floating-point operation