fləu v. & n. --v.intr. 1
glide along as a
stream (the Thames flows
under London Bridge). 2 a (of a
liquid,
esp. water)
gush out;
spring. b (of
blood, liquid, etc.) be
spilt. 3 (of blood,
money,
electric current, etc.)
circulate. 4 (of
people or things)
come or go in
large numbers or smoothly (traffic flowed down
the hill). 5 (of
talk,
literary style, etc.)
proceed easily and smoothly. 6 (of a
garment,
hair, etc.)
hang easily or gracefully;
undulate. 7 (often foll. by from)
result from; be caused by (his
failure flows from
his diffidence). 8 (esp. of the tide) be in
flood;
run full. 9 (of wine) be poured out copiously. 10 (of a rock or metal)
undergo a
permanent change of
shape under
stress. 11 (foll. by with)
archaic be plentifully supplied
with (land
flowing with
milk and honey). --n. 1 a a flowing
movement in a stream. b the
manner in
which a
thing flows (a
sluggish flow). c a flowing liquid (couldn't
stop the flow). d a
copious outpouring; a stream (a
continuous flow of complaints). 2 the
rise of a
tide or a
river (ebb and flow). 3 the
gradual deformation of a rock or
metal under stress. 4
Sc. a
bog or
morass. øflow
chart (or
diagram or sheet) 1 a diagram of the movement or
action of things or persons
engaged in a
complex activity. 2 a
graphical representation of a
computer program in
relation to
its sequence of functions (as
distinct from the
data it processes). flow of spirits
habitual cheerfulness. flow-on
Austral. a
wage or
salary adjustment
made as a
consequence of
one already made in a
similar or
related occupation. [OE flowan f. Gmc, rel. to FLOOD]