intransitive verb

1. to move as a liquid does; move in a stream, like water
2. to move in a way suggestive of a liquid; stream crowds flowed past
3. 1. to move gently, smoothly, and easily; glide
   2. to have smooth and pleasing continuity the lines in the painting flowed
4. to stream forth; pour out
5. to be derived; spring; proceed
6. to fall in waves; hang loose her long hair flowed down her back
7. to come in; rise, as the tide
8. to be overflowing or plentiful
9. Geol. to change in shape under pressure without breaking or splitting, as ice in a glacier or rocks deep in the earth

Etymology: ME flouen < OE flowan, akin to ON floa, to flood, OHG flouwen, to wash < IE base *pleu-, to run, flow, fly > flood, fly, flee, fleet, float, L pluere, to rain

transitive verb

1. to overflow; flood
2. Archaic to cause to flow

noun

1. the act or manner of flowing
2. the rate of flowing
3. anything that flows; stream or current
4. a continuous production a flow of ideas
5. the rising of the tide