flow
noun
- mathematical formalization of the motion of particles in a fluid
- concept in hip-hop music
- mental state
- current of water or other fluid
- move like water
verb
- move as a fluid from one position to another
- proceed; issue forth
- move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously
- be in abundance; abound, so as to run or flow over
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈfləʊ̯/ / [ˈfləʊ̯] / /ˈflɵʊ̯/
noun
Etymology: Uncertain. Perhaps from Old Norse flói (“a large bay, firth”), see floe. Compare Scots flow (“peat-bog, marsh”), Icelandic flói (“marshy ground”).
- A bog or mire, especially a rough, waterlogged one.
“[…] there are other extensive mosses in this district, commonly called flowes, which it is not probable ever will, or ever can be, converted into arable land. Some of these flowes are found to be 20, 25, or 30 feet deep, and are, besides, such a dead level, that the water has little or no descent; and even supposing they should be cast, or burnt to the bottom, standing pools of dirty water could only stand in their place.”
“Ye'll stick in some flow, Or, ye'll melt in a thow”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English flowen, from Old English flōwan (“to flow”), from Proto-West Germanic *flōan, from Proto-Germanic *flōaną (“to flow”), from Proto-Indo-European *plōw-, lengthened o-grade form of *plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian flouje (“to flow”), West Frisian floeie (“to flow”), Dutch vloeien (“to flow”), Norwegian flo (“to flow”). Compare also English float. Not cognate with Latin fluō despite similarity.
- To move as a fluid from one position to another.
“Rivers flow from springs and lakes.”
“Tears flow from the eyes.”
- To proceed; to issue forth; to emanate.
“Wealth flows from industry and economy.”
“Thoſe thouſand decencies that daily flow ¶ From all her words and actions, mixt with Love”
- To move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously.
“The writing is grammatically correct, but it just doesn't flow.”
“[…]Virgil,[…]is[…]ſweet and flowing in his Hexameters.”
- To have or be in abundance; to abound, so as to run or flow over.
“[…]in that day, that[…]the hils ſhall flow with milke,[…]a fountaine ſhall come forth of the houſe of the Lord,[…]”
“the exhilaration of a night that needed not the influence of the flowing bowl”
- To hang loosely and wave.
“a flowing mantle”
“flowing locks”
- To rise, as the tide; opposed to ebb.
“The tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.”
“The Riuer hath thrice flow’d, no ebbe betweene:”
- To arrange (text in a wordprocessor, etc.) so that it wraps neatly into a designated space; to reflow.
- To allow (a liquid) to flow.
“The action is usually progressive, and as a certain amount of oil is flowed from the tubing it lowers the pressure on the remaining oil and liberates more gas, thus causing additional oil to flow from the tubing.”
- To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.
- To cover with varnish.
- To discharge excessive blood from the uterus.