/ˈflʌʃ/
OriginFrom Middle English flusshen, fluschen, of uncertain origin. Compare dialectal flusk (“to fly at, startle a bird out of the bush”) and flusker (“to flutter, fly irregularly”). Perhaps related to Middle English flasshen, flasschen, flaschen, see flash; or a Middle English blend of flowen (“to flow”) + guschen (“to gush”). Compare Saterland Frisian flutskje, German Low German flutschen, German flutschen.
- A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees, etc.
“As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight / Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke […].”
- countable, uncountableA sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
“in manner of a wave or flush”
- countable, uncountableParticularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
- countable, uncountableThe process of clearing the contents of a buffer or cache.
- countable, uncountableA suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
“When I would kiss thy hand, / The flush of anger'd shame / O'erflows thy calmer glances, / And o'er black brows drops down / A sudden-curved frown: […]”
- countable, uncountableAny tinge of red color like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood.
“the flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset”
“Benefit’s cult product Benetint is the lip stain most widely associated with Popsicle lips. Its watery tint gives just the slightest hint of flush, befitting of lips (and nipples — Benetint’s original”
- countable, uncountableA sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.
- countable, uncountableA line of poles or obstacles that a skier must weave between.
- A groundwater-fed marsh or peaty mire (which may be acidic or basic, nutrient-rich or poor); (originally especially Scotland and Northern England) a (marshy) pool or seep, as in a field.
“For this point onwards the land slopes gently until it becomes quite low lying, that is, tends to become a "flush" or bog.”
“The reason for a "green gair" or flush is the outflow of a spring, and a regular line of these springs may often be traced along a valley slope.”
“The pH in water of the hillside soils varied between 3.1 and 6.1 with a mean of 4.2. The pattern of pH variation is complex and does not clearly relate either to cultivation or occupation. The most co”
- A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.
- transitiveTo cause to take flight from concealment.
“The dogs flushed the deer from the woods.”
- intransitiveTo take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.
“A covey of quail flushed from the undergrowth.”
“But then as little VVrens but nevvly fledge, / […] / His fellovv noting his agilitie, / Thinkes he as vvell may venter as the other, / So fluſhing from one ſpray vnto another, / Gets to the top, and t”
“The birds seem to lie very close and must be nearly stepped on before they will flush.”
- transitiveTo cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.
“Flush the injury with plenty of water.”
- transitiveParticularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
- intransitiveTo become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.
“The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.”
“She turned, laughing at the surprise, and flushing with pleasure.”
- transitiveTo cause to blush.
“Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek.”
“Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, / Flushing his brow, [...]”
“"Who plants a seed begets a bud, -- Extract of that same root; -- Why marvel at the hectic blood -- That flushes this wild fruit?"”
- To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.
- transitiveTo excite, inflame.
“such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition”
“Chill depths of the spirit are flushed to a fever,
The nightmare silence is broken. We are not lost.”
- intransitiveTo be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.
“There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing.”
- transitiveTo clear (a buffer or cache) of its contents.
- transitiveTo write (the data) to primary storage, clearing it from the buffer or cache.
- To flow and spread suddenly; to rush.
“Blood flushes into the face.”
“the flushing noise of many waters”
- To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
“In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.”
- To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.
- intransitiveTo operate a placer mine, where the continuous supply of water is insufficient, by holding back the water, and releasing it periodically in a flood.
- To fill underground spaces, especially in coal mines, with material carried by water, which, after drainage, constitutes a compact mass.
- intransitive, transitiveTo dispose or be disposed of by flushing down a toilet.
- SingaporeTo move, shift or align to one side.
- Smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.
“Sand down the excess until it is flush with the surface.”
- Wealthy or well off.
“He just got a bonus so he's flush today.”
“In 1952, Fawcett Books was flush with the unprecedented success of Women's Barracks.”
- abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsisEllipsis of flush left and right: a body of text aligned with both its left and right margins.
- Full of vigor; fresh; glowing; bright.
“With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.”
- Affluent; abounding; well furnished or supplied; hence, liberal; prodigal.
“[H]e vvas not fluſh in Ready [i.e., ready money], either to go to Lavv or clear old Debts, neither could he find good Bail: […]”
- not-comparableSuddenly and completely.
“I landed flush on the couch.”
Formsflushes(plural) · flushes(present, singular, third-person) · flushing(participle, present) · flushed(participle, past) · flushed(past) · flusher(comparative) · flushest(superlative)