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flush
flush1 / fləsh/ • v. 1. [intr.] (of a person's skin or face) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion: Mr. Cunningham flushed angrily | [as adj.] (flushed) her flushed cheeks. ∎ [tr.] cause (a person's skin or face) to become red and hot: the chill air flushed the parson's cheeks. ∎ glow or cause to glow with warm color or light: [intr.] the ash in the center of the fire flushed up | [tr.] the sky was flushed with the gold of dawn. ∎ (be flushed with) fig. be excited or elated by: flushed with success, I was getting into my stride. 2. [tr.] cleanse (something, esp. a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it: flush the toilet the nurse flushed out the catheter. ∎ [intr.] (of a toilet) be cleansed in such a way: Cally heard the toilet flush. ∎ [tr.] remove or dispose of (an object or substance) in such a way: I flushed the pills down the toilet the kidneys require more water to flush out waste products. ∎ [tr.] cause (a liquid) to flow through something: 0.3 ml of saline is gently flushed through the tube. 3. [tr.] drive (a bird, esp. a game bird, or an animal) from its cover: the grouse were flushed from the woods. ∎ fig. cause to be revealed; force into the open: they're trying to flush Tilton out of hiding. 4. [intr.] (of a plant) send out fresh shoots: the plant had started to flush by late March. • n. 1. a reddening of the face or skin that is typically caused by illness or strong emotion: a flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks. ∎ an area of warm color or light: the bird has a pinkish flush on the breast. 2. [in sing.] a sudden rush of intense emotion: I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm. ∎ a sudden abundance or spate of something: the frogs feast on the great flush of insects. ∎ fig. a period when something is new or particularly fresh and vigorous: he is no longer in the first flush of youth. ∎ a fresh growth of leaves, flowers, or fruit. 3. an act of cleansing something, esp. a toilet, with a sudden flow of water: an old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons per flush leave the hose running to give the system a good flush out. ∎ the device used for producing such a flow of water in a toilet: he pressed the flush absentmindedly. ∎ [as adj.] denoting a type of toilet that has such a device: a flush toilet. ∎ a sudden flow: the melting snow provides a flush of water. 4. the action of driving a game bird from its cover: the dogs retrieve the birds after the flush. DERIVATIVES: flush·er n. flush2 • adj. 1. completely level or even with another surface: the gates are flush with the adjoining fencing. ∎ (of printed text) not indented or protruding: each line is flush with the left-hand margin. ∎ (of a door) having a smooth surface, without indented or protruding panels or moldings. 2. inf. having plenty of something, esp. money: the banks are flush with funds. ∎ (of money) plentiful: the years when cash was flush. • adv. so as to be level or even: the screw must fit flush with the surface. ∎ so as to be directly centered; squarely: Jumbo reached up and hit Bruno flush on the jaw. • v. [tr.] fill in (a joint) level with a surface. DERIVATIVES: flush·ness n. flush3 • n. (in poker) a hand of cards all of the same suit. flush4 • n. Ecol. a piece of wet ground over which water flows without being confined to a definite channel. |
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Cite this article
"flush." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flush." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-flush.html "flush." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-flush.html |
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flush
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Cite this article
JAMES STEVENS CURL. "flush." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "flush." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-flush.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "flush." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-flush.html |
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Flush
Flusha flock of startled birds; a hand of cards of the same suit; a sudden growth of emotion. Examples: flush of cards of the same suit; of emotion; of malard [rising from the water]; of plumbers—Lipton, 1970; of Wing Commanders. |
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Cite this article
"Flush." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Flush." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300683.html "Flush." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300683.html |
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flush
flush3
A. (of liquids) rush out suddenly or copiously XVI; B. emit light or glow suddenly; produce or show heightened colour XVII. orig. identical with FLUSH1. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush2.html T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush2.html |
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flush
flush2 hand containing cards all of one suit. XVI. — F. †flus, flux — L. fluxus FLUX.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush1.html T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush1.html |
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flush
flush4 abundantly full, plentifully supplied XVII; even, level with XVIII. prob. f. prec.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush3.html T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush3.html |
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flush
flush1 fly up suddenly. XIII. first in pt. forms fliste, fluste; of imit. orig.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush.html T. F. HOAD. "flush." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-flush.html |
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flush
flush
•ablush, blush, brush, crush, flush, gush, hush, hush-hush, lush, mush, plush, rush, shush, slush, thrush, tush
•airbrush, hairbrush
•sagebrush • paintbrush • onrush
•song thrush • outrush • toothbrush
•woodrush • bulrush • uprush
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Cite this article
"flush." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "flush." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-flush.html "flush." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-flush.html |
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