FLOW


Meaning of FLOW in English

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

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.