flow
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
flow
to move along in a stream; to circulate; to issue or proceed from a source
Not to be confused with:
floe – a sheet of floating ice, as on the surface of the sea
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
flow
(flō)v. flowed, flow·ing, flows
v.intr.
1.
a. To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid.
b. To issue in a stream; pour forth: Sap flowed from the gash in the tree.
2. To circulate, as the blood in the body.
3. To move with a continual shifting of component particles: wheat flowing into the bin; traffic flowing through the tunnel.
4. To proceed steadily and easily: The preparations flowed smoothly.
5. To exhibit a smooth or graceful continuity: The poem's cadence flowed gracefully.
6. To hang loosely and gracefully: The cape flowed from his shoulders.
7. To rise. Used of the tide.
8. To arise; derive: Many conclusions flow from this hypothesis.
9.
a. To be abundant; teem: coffers flowing with treasure; wine flowing at the celebration.
b. To move from one place to another in large numbers: Contributions flowed in from all parts of the country.
10. To menstruate.
11. To undergo plastic deformation without cracking or breaking. Used of rocks, metals, or minerals.
v.tr.
1. To release as a flow: trees flowing thin sap.
2. To cause to flow: "One of the real keys to success is developing a system where you can flow traffic to yourselves" (Marc Klee).
n.
1.
a. The act of flowing.
b. The smooth motion characteristic of fluids.
2.
a. A stream or current.
b. A flood or overflow.
c. A residual mass that has stopped flowing: a hardened lava flow.
3.
a. A continuous output or outpouring: a flow of ideas; produced a steady flow of stories.
b. A continuous movement or circulation: the flow of traffic; a flow of paperwork across his desk.
4. The amount that flows in a given period of time.
5. The rising of the tide.
6. Continuity and smoothness of appearance.
7. A general movement or tendency: a dissenter who went against the flow of opinion.
8. The sequence in which operations are performed.
9. An apparent ease or effortlessness of performance: "An athlete must learn to forget the details of his or her training to achieve the instinctive sense of flow that characterizes a champion" (Frederick Turner).
10. Menstrual discharge.
flow′ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: flow, current, flood, rush1, stream, tide1
These nouns denote something suggestive of running water, as in power of movement or abundance: a flow of thought; the current of history; a flood of ideas; a rush of sympathy; a stream of complaints; a tide of immigration. See Also Synonyms at stem1.
These nouns denote something suggestive of running water, as in power of movement or abundance: a flow of thought; the current of history; a flood of ideas; a rush of sympathy; a stream of complaints; a tide of immigration. See Also Synonyms at stem1.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
flow
(fləʊ)vb (mainly intr)
1. (of liquids) to move or be conveyed as in a stream
2. (of blood) to circulate around the body
3. to move or progress freely as if in a stream: the crowd flowed into the building.
4. to proceed or be produced continuously and effortlessly: ideas flowed from her pen.
5. to show or be marked by smooth or easy movement
6. to hang freely or loosely: her hair flowed down her back.
7. to be present in abundance: wine flows at their parties.
8. (Physiology) an informal word for menstruate
9. (Physical Geography) (of tide water) to advance or rise. Compare ebb1
10. (tr) to cover or swamp with liquid; flood
11. (Geological Science) (of rocks such as slate) to yield to pressure without breaking so that the structure and arrangement of the constituent minerals are altered
n
12. the act, rate, or manner of flowing: a fast flow.
13. a continuous stream or discharge
14. continuous progression
15. (Physical Geography) the advancing of the tide
16. (Physical Geography) a stream of molten or solidified lava
17. the amount of liquid that flows in a given time
18. (Physiology) an informal word for menstruation
19. (Physical Geography)
a. a marsh or swamp
b. an inlet or basin of the sea
c. (capital when part of a name): Scapa Flow.
20. flow of spirits natural happiness
[Old English flōwan; related to Old Norse flōa, Middle Low German vlōien, Greek plein to float, Sanskrit plavate he swims]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
flow
(floʊ)v.i.
1. to move along in a stream: The river flows to the sea.
2. to circulate, as blood.
3. to stream or well forth.
4. to issue or proceed from a source: Orders flowed from the office.
5. to come or go as in a stream: Masses of people flowed by.
6. to proceed continuously: The words flowed from his pen.
7. to hang loosely at full length: hair flowing down her back.
8. to abound in something: a land flowing with plentiful harvests.
9. to menstruate.
10. to rise and advance, as the tide (opposed to ebb).
v.t. 11. to cause or permit to flow.
12. to cover with liquid; flood.
n. 13. an act of flowing.
14. movement in or as if in a stream.
15. the rate of flowing.
16. the volume of fluid that flows through a passage during a given unit of time.
17. something that flows; stream.
18. an outpouring of something: a flow of blood.
19. menstruation.
20. an overflowing; flood.
21. the rise of the tide (opposed to ebb).
22. the transference of energy: heat flow.
Idioms: go with the flow, to follow prevailing trends.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English flōwan]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
flow
Past participle: flowed
Gerund: flowing
| Imperative |
|---|
| flow |
| flow |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  flow - the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)change of location, travel - a movement through space that changes the location of something backflow, backflowing - a flow that returns toward its source air flow, airflow, flow of air - the flow of air; "she adjusted the fan so that the airflow was directed right at her" current, stream - a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes); "the raft floated downstream on the current"; "he felt a stream of air"; "the hose ejected a stream of water" runoff, overflow, overspill - the occurrence of surplus liquid (as water) exceeding the limit or capacity dribble, drip, trickle - flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid; "there's a drip through the roof" emission - the occurrence of a flow of water (as from a pipe) gush, outpouring, flush - a sudden rapid flow (as of water); "he heard the flush of a toilet"; "there was a little gush of blood"; "she attacked him with an outpouring of words" |
| 2. | flow - the amount of fluid that flows in a given time cardiac output - the amount of blood pumped out by the ventricles in a given period of time; "a resting adult has a cardiac output of about three quarts a minute" rate - a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit; "they traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour"; "the rate of change was faster than expected" | |
| 3. | flow - the act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression | |
| 4. | flow - any uninterrupted stream or discharge backwash, slipstream, airstream, wash - the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller turbulent flow - flow in which the velocity at any point varies erratically streamline flow - flow of a gas or liquid in which the velocity at any point is relatively steady filling - flow into something (as a container) flowage - gradual internal motion or deformation of a solid body (as by heat); "rock fracture and rock flowage are different types of geological deformation" natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" | |
| 5. | flow - something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously; "a stream of people emptied from the terminal"; "the museum had planned carefully for the flow of visitors" motion - a state of change; "they were in a state of steady motion" | |
| 6. | flow - dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas; "two streams of development run through American history"; "stream of consciousness"; "the flow of thought"; "the current of history" | |
| 7. |  flow - the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus of nonpregnant women from puberty to menopause; "the women were sickly and subject to excessive menstruation"; "a woman does not take the gout unless her menses be stopped"--Hippocrates; "the semen begins to appear in males and to be emitted at the same time of life that the catamenia begin to flow in females"--Aristotleexpelling, discharge, emission - any of several bodily processes by which substances go out of the body; "the discharge of pus" hypermenorrhea, menorrhagia - abnormally heavy or prolonged menstruation; can be a symptom of uterine tumors and can lead to anemia if prolonged oligomenorrhea - abnormally light or infrequent menstruation | |
| Verb | 1. | flow - move or progress freely as if in a stream; "The crowd flowed out of the stadium" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" transpirate, transpire - pass through the tissue or substance or its pores or interstices, as of gas |
| 2. | flow - move along, of liquids; "Water flowed into the cave"; "the Missouri feeds into the Mississippi" flush - flow freely; "The garbage flushed down the river" jet, gush - issue in a jet; come out in a jet; stream or spring forth; "Water jetted forth"; "flames were jetting out of the building" move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" circulate - move through a space, circuit or system, returning to the starting point; "Blood circulates in my veins"; "The air here does not circulate" run down - move downward; "The water ran down" pour - flow in a spurt; "Water poured all over the floor" spill, run out - flow, run or fall out and become lost; "The milk spilled across the floor"; "The wine spilled onto the table" dribble, trickle, filter - run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream; "water trickled onto the lawn from the broken hose"; "reports began to dribble in" gutter - flow in small streams; "Tears guttered down her face" | |
| 3. | flow - cause to flow; "The artist flowed the washes on the paper" | |
| 4. | flow - be abundantly present; "The champagne flowed at the wedding" | |
| 5. | flow - fall or flow in a certain way; "This dress hangs well"; "Her long black hair flowed down her back" | |
| 6. | flow - cover or swamp with water flood - cover with liquid, usually water; "The swollen river flooded the village"; "The broken vein had flooded blood in her eyes" | |
| 7. | flow - undergo menstruation; "She started menstruating at the age of 11" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
flow
verb
1. run, course, rush, sweep, move, issue, pass, roll, flood, pour, slide, proceed, stream, run out, surge, spill, go along, circulate, swirl, glide, ripple, cascade, whirl, overflow, gush, inundate, deluge, spurt, teem, spew, squirt, purl, well forth A stream flowed down into the valley.
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
flow
verb5. To have as a source:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تَدَفُّقيَتَدَفَّقيَتَدَفَّقُيَرْتَفِع
течение
přílivproudprouditstoupattéci
strømstrømmeflodløbe
ladusussujuvustõusvool
virratavirtaamavirtaus
teći
árad
flæîa aîrenna, flæîa, streymastraumur, flaumur
流れる
흐르다
proceso diagramasrautastekėjimastekėti
celtiesplūdumsplūšanaplūsmaplūst
curgeflux
cirkuláciatiecťtok
tečitok
flytaströmma
ไหล
chảy
flow
[fləʊ]A. N [of river, tide, Elec] → corriente f, flujo m; (= direction) → curso m; [of blood] (from wound) → flujo; [of words etc] → torrente m
the flow of traffic → la circulación (del tráfico)
to maintain a steady flow [of people, vehicles] → mantener un movimiento constante
to go with the flow → dejarse llevar
the flow of traffic → la circulación (del tráfico)
to maintain a steady flow [of people, vehicles] → mantener un movimiento constante
to go with the flow → dejarse llevar
B. VI [river] → fluir, discurrir; [tide] → subir, crecer; [blood] (from wound) → manar; (through body) → circular; [tears] → correr; [hair] → caer suavemente or con soltura; [words] → fluir
tears flowed down her cheeks → le corrían las lágrimas por las mejillas
the river flows through the valley → el río fluye or discurre por el valle
the river flowed over its banks → el río se desbordó
the river flows into the sea → el río desemboca en el mar
water was flowing from the pipe → el agua brotaba de la tubería
traffic is now flowing normally → el tráfico ya circula or fluye or discurre con normalidad
money flowed in → el dinero entraba a raudales
people are flowing in → entra la gente a raudales
to keep the conversation flowing → mantener viva la conversación
the town flowed with wine and food → el pueblo abundaba en vino y comida
see also ebb
tears flowed down her cheeks → le corrían las lágrimas por las mejillas
the river flows through the valley → el río fluye or discurre por el valle
the river flowed over its banks → el río se desbordó
the river flows into the sea → el río desemboca en el mar
water was flowing from the pipe → el agua brotaba de la tubería
traffic is now flowing normally → el tráfico ya circula or fluye or discurre con normalidad
money flowed in → el dinero entraba a raudales
people are flowing in → entra la gente a raudales
to keep the conversation flowing → mantener viva la conversación
the town flowed with wine and food → el pueblo abundaba en vino y comida
see also ebb
C. CPD flow chart, flow diagram N → organigrama m
flow sheet N (Comput) → diagrama m de flujo, ordinograma m (Admin) → organigrama m
flow sheet N (Comput) → diagrama m de flujo, ordinograma m (Admin) → organigrama m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
flow
[ˈfləʊ] n
[water] → écoulement m
[orders, letters] → flot m
(= tide) → flux m
to be in full flow [activity] → marcher à plein régime; [speaker] → être sur sa lancée
to go with the flow → suivre le mouvement
to be in full flow [activity] → marcher à plein régime; [speaker] → être sur sa lancée
to go with the flow → suivre le mouvement
[blood] → circulation f blood flow
[electrical current] → circulation f
[river] → courant m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
flow
vi
(lit, fig) → fließen; (tears) → strömen, fließen; (prose) → flüssig sein; where the river flows into the sea → wo der Fluss ins Meer mündet; tears were flowing down her cheeks → Tränen liefen or flossen or strömten ihr übers Gesicht; the wine flowed freely all evening → der Wein floss den ganzen Abend in Strömen; to make the conversation flow → ein lebhaftes Gespräch in Gang bringen; to keep the traffic flowing → den Verkehr nicht ins Stocken kommen lassen; his words flowed readily → er redete sehr flüssig; to flow in/out (water, people, money etc) → hinein-/herausströmen; a surge of hatred flowed through me → Hass wallte in mir auf
(tide) → steigen, hereinkommen
n
→ Fluss m; (of people) → Strom m; the flow of blood/traffic/information → der Blut-/Verkehrs-/Informationsfluss; against the flow of the river → gegen den Strom; to go with the flow (fig) → mit dem Strom schwimmen
(of words etc) → Redefluss m; the powerful flow of his prose → seine wortgewaltige Prosa; the flow of conversation → der Gesprächsfluss; he was in full flow → er war richtig in Fahrt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
flow
[fləʊ]1. n (of river, also) (Elec) → corrente f; (of tide) → flusso; (of blood, from wound) → uscita; (in veins) → circolazione f; (of words) → fiume m; (of insults, orders) → caterva, sfilza
the flow of traffic → la circolazione
the flow of traffic → la circolazione
2. vi (gen) → fluire; (tide) → salire; (blood in veins, traffic) → circolare; (hair) → ricadere (morbidamente), scendere
money flowed in (fig) → i soldi sono arrivati in grande quantità
the river flows into the sea → il fiume sfocia nel mare
to keep the conversation flowing → mantenere viva la conversazione
money flowed in (fig) → i soldi sono arrivati in grande quantità
the river flows into the sea → il fiume sfocia nel mare
to keep the conversation flowing → mantenere viva la conversazione
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
flow
(fləu) verb1. to move along in the way that water does. The river flowed into the sea.
2. (of the tide) to rise. The boat left the harbour when the tide began to flow.
noun the act of flowing. a flow of blood; the flow of traffic.
ˈflow chart noun a chart describing the stages of a process.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
flow
→ يَتَدَفَّقُ proudit strømme fließen κυλώ fluir virrata couler teći scorrere 流れる 흐르다 stromen strømme popłynąć fluir течь flyta ไหล akmak chảy 流动Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
flow
n. flujo, salida; riego; [menstrual] pop. pérdida;
v. fluir; correr; derramar;
blood ___ → riego sanguíneo;
laminar ___ → ___ laminar;
turbulent ___ → ___ turbulento;
___ rate → indice de ___.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
flow
n flujo; blood — flujo sanguíneo or de la sangre; menstrual — flujo menstrual; peak — (spirometry) flujo máximo; vi fluirEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.