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flow definition

flow (flō)

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
    1. to move gently, smoothly, and easily; glide
    2. to have smooth and pleasing continuity the lines in the painting flowed
  3. to stream forth; pour out
  4. to be derived; spring; proceed
  5. to fall in waves; hang loose her long hair flowed down her back
  6. to come in; rise, as the tide
  7. to be overflowing or plentiful
  8. 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

Related Forms:

flow Idioms

go with the flow

Informal to conform to or accept, rather than resist, a trend, condition, development, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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