Flap, in (archaic) computer science jargon, refers to the process for unmounting a magnetic tape. When the system operator commanded a tape drive to unmount a tape, it would rewind the medium and then, as the tape unwrapped from the take-up reel, it would go "flap-flap-flap" as the feed reel spun down.
In plastic surgery, a flap is a vascularised tissue transfer .
Flapping can also refer to a repetitive up-and-down motion most commonly associated with a bird's wing in flight. Birds flap to provide airflow against their wing, thereby generating lift. Larger wings are more efficient (a side-effect of their aspect ratio) so smaller birds must flap much more quickly, while larger birds can soar without flapping for long periods.