flux

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flux / fləks/ • n. 1. the action or process of flowing or flowing out: the flux of men and women moving back and forth | a localized flux of calcium into the cell. ∎  Med. an abnormal discharge of blood or other matter from or within the body. ∎  (usu. the flux) archaic diarrhea or dysentery.2. continuous change: the whole political system is in a state of flux.3. Physics the rate of flow of a fluid, radiant energy, or particles across a given area. ∎  the amount of radiation or number of particles incident on an area in a given time. ∎  the total electric or magnetic field passing through a surface.4. a substance mixed with a solid to lower its melting point, used esp. in soldering and brazing metals or to promote vitrification in glass or ceramics. ∎  a substance added to a furnace during metal smelting or glassmaking that combines with impurities to form slag.• v. [tr.] treat (a metal object) with a flux to promote melting.

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