I. ˈfləsh verb
Etymology: Middle English flusshen
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
: to fly away suddenly
transitive verb
1. : to cause (as a bird) to flush
2. : to expose or chase from a place of concealment
flush ed the boys from their hiding place
II. noun
Etymology: Middle French flus, fluz, from Latin fluxus flow, flux
Date: circa 1529
1. : a hand of playing cards all of the same suit ; specifically : a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit but not in sequence — see poker illustration
2. : a series of three or more slalom gates set vertically on a slope
III. noun
Etymology: perhaps modification of Latin fluxus
Date: 1529
1. : a sudden flow (as of water) ; also : a rinsing or cleansing with or as if with a flush of water
2.
a. : a sudden increase or expansion ; especially : sudden and usually abundant new plant growth
the spring flush of grass
b. : a surge of emotion
felt a flush of anger at the insult
3.
a. : a tinge of red : blush
b. : a fresh and vigorous state
in the first flush of womanhood
4. : a transitory sensation of extreme heat — compare hot flash
IV. verb
Date: 1548
intransitive verb
1. : to flow and spread suddenly and freely
2.
a. : to glow brightly
b. : blush
3. : to produce new growth
the plants flush twice during the year
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to flow
b. : to pour liquid over or through ; especially : to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid
flush the toilet
flush the lungs with air
2. : inflame , excite — usually used passively
flush ed with pride
3. : to cause to blush
V. adjective
Date: circa 1568
1.
a. : of a ruddy healthy color
b. : full of life and vigor : lusty
2.
a. : filled to overflowing
b. : affluent
3. : readily available : abundant
4.
a. : having or forming a continuous plane or unbroken surface
flush paneling
b. : directly abutting or immediately adjacent: as
(1) : set even with an edge of a type page or column : having no indention
(2) : arranged edge to edge so as to fit snugly
• flush·ness noun
VI. adverb
Date: 1700
1. : in a flush manner
2. : squarely
hit him flush on the chin
VII. transitive verb
Date: circa 1842
: to make flush
flush the headings on a page