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.
Phrases and idioms:
flow 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.
Etymology: OE flowan f. Gmc, rel. to FLOOD