A stream flows through the forest.
- The definition of a flow is an act of moving or running smoothly, a movement of water or the continuous moving of ideas, stories, etc.
- An example of a flow is a steady movement through the development of a research paper.
- An example of a flow is the movement of a stream.
- An example of a flow is a class session where students constantly offer input.
- To flow is defined as to run or move smoothly.
An example of flow is for a classroom session to run without any problems.
- to move as a liquid does; move in a stream, like water
- to move in a way suggestive of a liquid; stream: crowds flowed past
- to move gently, smoothly, and easily; glide
- to have smooth and pleasing continuity: the lines in the painting flowed
- to stream forth; pour out
- to be derived; spring; proceed
- to fall in waves; hang loose: her long hair flowed down her back
- to come in; rise, as the tide
- to be overflowing or plentiful
- Geol. to change in shape under pressure without breaking or splitting, as ice in a glacier or rocks deep in the earth
Origin of flowMiddle English flouen ; from Old English flowan, akin to Old Norse floa, to flood, Old High German flouwen, to wash ; from Indo-European base an unverified form pleu-, to run, flow, fly from source flood, fly, flee, fleet, float, Classical Latin pluere, to rain
- to overflow; flood
- Archaic to cause to flow
- the act or manner of flowing
- the rate of flowing
- anything that flows; stream or current
- a continuous production: a flow of ideas
- the rising of the tide
go with the flow
verbflowed, flow·ing, flows
- a. To move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid.b. To issue in a stream; pour forth: Sap flowed from the gash in the tree.
- To circulate, as the blood in the body.
- To move with a continual shifting of component particles: wheat flowing into the bin; traffic flowing through the tunnel.
- To proceed steadily and easily: The preparations flowed smoothly.
- To exhibit a smooth or graceful continuity: The poem's cadence flowed gracefully.
- To hang loosely and gracefully: The cape flowed from his shoulders.
- To rise. Used of the tide.
- To arise; derive: Many conclusions flow from this hypothesis.
- a. To be abundant; teem: coffers flowing with treasure; wine flowing at the celebration.b. To move from one place to another in large numbers: Contributions flowed in from all parts of the country.
- To menstruate.
- To undergo plastic deformation without cracking or breaking. Used of rocks, metals, or minerals.
- To release as a flow: trees flowing thin sap.
- To cause to flow: “One of the real keys to success is developing a system where you can flow traffic to yourselves” (Marc Klee).
- a. The act of flowing.b. The smooth motion characteristic of fluids.
- a. A stream or current.b. A flood or overflow.c. A residual mass that has stopped flowing: a hardened lava flow.
- a. A continuous output or outpouring: a flow of ideas; produced a steady flow of stories.b. A continuous movement or circulation: the flow of traffic; a flow of paperwork across his desk.
- The amount that flows in a given period of time.
- The rising of the tide.
- Continuity and smoothness of appearance.
- A general movement or tendency: a dissenter who went against the flow of opinion.
- The sequence in which operations are performed.
- An apparent ease or effortlessness of performance: “An athlete must learn to forget the details of his or her training to achieve the instinctive sense of flow that characterizes a champion” (Frederick Turner).
- Menstrual discharge.
Origin of flowMiddle English flouen, from Old English fl&omacron;wan; see pleu- in Indo-European roots.
(countable and uncountable, plural flows)
- The movement of a real or figurative fluid.
- The rising movement of the tide.
- Smoothness or continuity.
- The room was small, but it had good symmetry and flow.
- The amount of a fluid that moves or the rate of fluid movement.
- Turn on the valve and make sure you have sufficient flow.
- (psychology) The state of being at one with.
(third-person singular simple present flows, present participle flowing, simple past and past participle flowed)
- (intransitive) To move as a fluid from one position to another.
- Rivers flow from springs and lakes.
- Tears flow from the eyes.
- (intransitive) To proceed; to issue forth.
- Wealth flows from industry and economy.
- (intransitive) To move or match smoothly, gracefully, or continuously.
- The writing is grammatically correct, but it just doesn't flow.
- (intransitive) To have or be in abundance; to abound, so as to run or flow over.
- (intransitive) To hang loosely and wave.
- a flowing mantle; flowing locks
- (intransitive) To rise, as the tide; opposed to ebb.
- The tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.
- (computing) To arrange (text in a wordprocessor, etc.) so that it wraps neatly into a designated space; to reflow.
- To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.
- To cover with varnish.
- (intransitive) To discharge excessive blood from the uterus.
flow - Computer Definition
- Movement in a manner suggestive of a liquid. Movement in a smooth and gentle manner, like water in a stream. See also stream-oriented.
- In telecommunications, a sequence of bits, bytes, datagrams, or packets between common endpoints identified by features such as network addresses and port numbers. See also bit, byte, datagram, endpoint, packet, and port.