Flip Flop

(Informal) abrupt reversal or change (esp. of opinion); back flip; sound of something flapping; backless thong sandal; circuit that can toggle between two modes (Electronics)

In footwear and fashion, flip-flops (also known as thongs) are a kind of flat, backless, usually rubber sandal consisting of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a U-shaped strap that passes between the first (big) and second toes and around either side of the foot. They appear to have been developed based on traditional Japanese woven or wooden soled sandals. The exact invention date is not known.
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Noun
1. a decision to reverse an earlier decision
(synonym) reversal, change of mind, turnabout, turnaround
(hypernym) decision making, deciding
(hyponym) reconsideration, second thought, afterthought, rethink
(derivation) interchange, tack, switch, alternate, flip
2. a backless sandal held to the foot by a thong between the big toe and the second toe
(hypernym) sandal
3. an electronic circuit that can assume either of two stable states
(hypernym) circuit, electrical circuit, electric circuit
4. a backward somersault
(hypernym) somersault, somersaulting, flip
Verb
1. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
(synonym) interchange, tack, switch, alternate, flip
(hypernym) change by reversal, turn, reverse
(derivation) reversal, change of mind, turnabout, turnaround

A device that may assume either one of two reversible, stable states. Note 1: The flip-flop is used as a basic control element in computer and communications systems. Note 2: In a flip-flop, the transition from one stable state to the other is unstable, i.e., for the very short period during which the transition takes place, both outputs may assume the same state, which state may be unpredictable. Synonyms bistable circuit, bistable multivibrator, bistable trigger circuit.

<hardware> A digital logic circuit that can be in one of two states which it switches (or "toggles") between under control of its inputs. It can thus be considered as a one bit memory. Three types of flip-flop are common: the SR flip-flop, the JK flip-flop and the D-type flip-flop (or latch).
Early literature refers to the "Eccles-Jordan circuit" and the "Eccles-Jordan binary counter", using two vacuum tubes as the active (amplifying) elements for each bit of information storage. Later implementations using bipolar transistors could operate at up to 20 million state transitions per second as early as 1963.
(1995-11-11)