flow

flow¹ W2S2 [fləu US flou] n

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1¦(liquid/gas/electricity)¦

2¦(traffic)¦

3¦(goods/people/information)¦

4¦(speech/writing)¦

5¦(of the sea)¦

6 in full flow

7 go with the flow

8 go against the flow

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1.) ¦(LIQUID/GAS/ELECTRICITY)¦ [C usually singular]

a smooth steady movement of liquid, gas, or electricity

flow of

▪ He struggled to swim against the flow of the water.

▪ I tied a towel round his leg to try to stem the flow of blood.

2.) ¦(TRAFFIC)¦ [C usually singular, U]

the steady movement of traffic

▪ a new road system to improve traffic flow through the city centre

3.) ¦(GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION)¦ [C usually singular]

the movement of goods, people, or information from one place to another

flow of

▪ the flow of funds from the US to Europe

▪ There has been a steady flow of people leaving the area.

▪ They have accused the government of trying to block the free flow of information.

▪ an attempt to stem the flow of refugees across the border

4.) ¦(SPEECH/WRITING)¦[U]

the continuous stream of words or ideas when someone is speaking, writing, or thinking about something

▪ I didn't want to interrupt her flow , so I said nothing.

5.) ¦(OF THE SEA)¦ [singular]

the regular movement of the sea towards the land

▪ the ebb and flow of the tide

6.) in full flow informal

if someone is in full flow, they are busy talking about something and seem likely to continue for a long time

7.) go with the flow

to agree that you will do the thing that most people want to do

▪ I don't mind, I'll just go with the flow.

8.) go against the flow

to do something very different from what other people are doing

→↑cash flow,ebb and flow at ↑ebb¹ (3)

flow ²

flow² S3 v [I]

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1¦(liquid/gas/electricity)¦

2¦(goods/people/information)¦

3¦(traffic)¦

4¦(alcohol)¦

5¦(words/ideas)¦

6¦(sea)¦

7¦(feelings)¦

8¦(clothes/hair)¦

9 flow from something

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[: Old English; Origin: flowan]

1.) ¦(LIQUID/GAS/ELECTRICITY)¦

when a liquid, gas, or electricity flows, it moves in a steady continuous stream

flow over/down/through etc

▪ These gates regulate the amount of water flowing into the canal.

▪ If the windows are shut, air cannot flow freely through the building.

2.) ¦(GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION)¦ [always + adverb/preposition]

if goods, people, or information flow from one place to another, they move there in large numbers or amounts

= ↑pour, flood ↑flood

▪ Money has been flowing into the country from Western aid agencies.

▪ The number of refugees flowing into the area is still increasing.

3.) ¦(TRAFFIC)¦

if traffic flows, it moves easily from one place to another

▪ The new one-way system should help the traffic to flow better.

4.) ¦(ALCOHOL)¦

if alcohol flows at a party, people drink a lot and there is a lot available

▪ Beer and whisky flowed freely as the evening wore on.

5.) ¦(WORDS/IDEAS)¦

if conversation or ideas flow, people talk or have ideas steadily and continuously, without anything stopping or interrupting them

▪ Everyone was relaxed and the conversation flowed freely .

6.) ¦(SEA)¦

when the sea flows, it moves towards the land

▪ We watched the tide ebb and flow .

7.) ¦(FEELINGS)¦

if a feeling flows through you or over you, you feel it strongly

flow through/over

▪ She felt hot rage flowing through her.

8.) ¦(CLOTHES/HAIR)¦

if clothing or hair flows, it falls or hangs loosely and gracefully

▪ Her long hair flowed down her back.

9.) flow from sth

to happen as a result of something

▪ the political consequences that flowed from this decision