26984 words

flow

16 definitions • 38 examples
1

Examples:

flow down Lava from the volcano was flowing down the hillside.
flow into Many short rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean.
flow through The river flows through three counties before flowing into the sea just south of here.
2
to continue to arrive or be produced:

Examples:

flow in Please keep the money flowing in!
flow into Offers of help are flowing into the disaster area from all over the country.
thoughts flow My thoughts flow more easily if I work on a computer.
wine flows By eleven o'clock, the wine was starting to flow.
conversation flows After they'd all had a drink or two, the conversation began to flow.
3
to hang down loosely and often attractively:

Examples:

Her long red hair flowed down over her shoulders.
4
the movement of something in one direction:

Examples:

flow of the flow of a river
the flow of traffic
the flow of blood
5
a regular and quite large number of something:

Examples:

steady flow There's been a steady flow of visitors.
flow of They are worried that the flow of tourists could swell into an unmanageable torrent if there are no controls.
6
a situation in which something is produced or moved continuously:

Examples:

flow of the flow of ideas/information
7
a pleasant state in which someone is giving their attention completely to what they are doing, not thinking about anything else, and doing it skilfully and easily:

Examples:

Flow is sometimes referred to as "being in the zone".
state of flow He believes that a person is at their happiest in a state of flow.
flow state When I play music I sometimes go into this flow state where I am not aware of time passing.
8
a man's long hair, especially that of an athlete :

Examples:

His blond locks give him some incredible flow, making him one of the most recognizable players in the league.
9
(esp. of liquids, gases, or electricity) to move in one direction, esp. continuously and easily:

Examples:

Air flows over an aircraft’s wing faster than it flows under it.
Lava from the volcano was flowing down the hillside.
Many rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean.
With fewer cars on the roads, traffic is flowing (= moving forward) more smoothly than usual.
fig. My thoughts flow more easily (= I can think more easily) if I work on a word processor.
10
Something can be said to flow if it hangs down loosely and attractively:

Examples:

Her long, red hair flowed down over shoulders.
11

Examples:

This drug increases the flow of blood to the heart.
fig. Music interrupted the flow of the conversation (= the regular exchange between speakers).
12
A flow is also large mass of material, such as lava (= melted rock from a volcano), that is flowing or has flowed in the past.
13
if money, goods, etc. flow, they move from one company, organization, or place to another in large amounts:

Examples:

Capital must flow freely around the world in order to ensure international prosperity.
flow in/out/back As revenue comes in it will flow back to investors.
flow into/through/out of sth The money flowing into online advertising today is largely from direct marketing companies.
14
if discussions or ideas flow, people talk and exchange information in a relaxed way:

Examples:

Ideas flow more easily in an atmosphere of trust.
15
a situation in which a large amount of money or goods moves from one company, organization, or place to another:

Examples:

a steady/constant flow of sth The company is in the enviable position of having no debt and a steady flow of revenue.
the flow of money/goods/resources State authorities welcome the flow of money from those seeking city contracts.
16

Examples:

a flow of sth A shared sense of commitment to a project leads to a free flow of ideas and information.

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