Meaning of flush in English

1. Pronunciation

   /fləʃ/

   US accent

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   UK accent

   How to pronounce flush in British English, in context ▾
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1. Verb

   flush

   Etymology

   Middle English (in the sense ‘move rapidly, spring up’, especially of a bird ‘fly up suddenly’): symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words connected with sudden movement; perhaps influenced by flash and blush

   Definitions

   1. turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame

   Examples

   • « The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by »
2. 2. flow freely

   Examples

   • « The garbage flushed down the river »
3. 3. make level or straight

   Examples

   • « level the ground »
4. 4. polish and make shiny

   Examples

   • « buff the wooden floors »
   • « buff my shoes »
5. 5. rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid

   Examples

   • « flush the wound with antibiotics »
   • « purge the old gas tank »
6. 6. irrigate with water from a sluice

   Examples

   • « sluice the earth »
7. 7. cause to flow or flood with or as if with water

   Examples

   • « flush the meadows »

8. Classifying Adjective

   flush

   Definitions

   1. having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

   Examples

   • « an affluent banker »
   • « a speculator flush with cash »
   • « not merely rich but loaded »
   • « moneyed aristocrats »
   • « wealthy corporations »

   Synonyms

   • rich

9. Adverb

   flush

   Definitions

   1. squarely or solidly

   Examples

   • « hit him flush in the face »
10. 2. in the same plane

    Examples

    • « set it flush with the top of the table »

11. Noun

    flush

    Etymology

    early 16th century: from French flux (formerly flus), from Latin fluxus‘a flow’(see flux: the use in cards can be compared with English run)

    Definitions

    1. the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
12. 2. a rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
13. 3. sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders)
14. 4. a poker hand with all 5 cards in the same suit
15. 5. the swift release of a store of affective force

    Examples

    • « they got a great bang out of it »
    • « what a boot! »
    • « he got a quick rush from injecting heroin »
    • « he does it for kicks »
16. 6. a sudden rapid flow (as of water)

    Examples

    • « he heard the flush of a toilet »
    • « there was a little gush of blood »
    • « she attacked him with an outpouring of words »
17. 7. sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)