flush1
[fluhsh]
- a blush; rosy glow: a flush of embarrassment on his face.
- a rushing or overspreading flow, as of water.
- a sudden rise of emotion or excitement: a flush of anger.
- glowing freshness or vigor: the flush of youth.
- hot flush. hot flash.
- a cleansing preparation that acts by flushing: an oil flush for the car's engine.
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- to redden; cause to blush or glow: Winter air flushed the children's cheeks.
- to flood or spray thoroughly with water, as for cleansing purposes: They flushed the wall with water and then scrubbed it down.
- to wash out (a sewer, toilet, etc.) by a sudden rush of water.
- Metallurgy.
- to remove slag from (a blast furnace).
- to spray (a coke oven) to cool the gases generated and wash away the ammonia and tars distilled.
- to animate or excite; inflame: flushed with success.
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- to blush; redden.
- to flow with a rush; flow and spread suddenly.
- to operate by flushing; undergo flushing: The toilet won't flush.
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Origin of flush1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for flush on Thesaurus.com3. access, rush, flood, impulse, thrill.
flush2
[fluhsh]
- even or level, as with a surface; forming the same plane: The bottom of the window is flush with the floor.
- having direct contact; being right next to; immediately adjacent; contiguous: The table was flush against the wall.
- well-supplied, as with money; affluent; prosperous: He was feeling flush on payday.
- abundant or plentiful, as money.
- having a ruddy or reddish color; blushing.
- full of vigor; lusty.
- full to overflowing.
- Printing. even or level with the right margin (flush right) or the left margin (flush left) of the type page; without an indention.
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- on the same level; in a straight line; without a change of plane: to be made flush with the top of the table.
- in direct contact; squarely: It was set flush against the edge.
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- to make flush or even.
- to improve the nutrition of (a ewe) to bring on optimum physiological conditions for breeding.
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- to send out shoots, as plants in spring.
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- a fresh growth, as of shoots and leaves.
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Origin of flush2
First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps all sense developments of flush1
flush3
[fluhsh]Hunting.
- to rouse and cause to start up or fly off: to flush a woodcock.
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- to fly out or start up suddenly.
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- a flushed bird or flock of birds.
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Origin of flush3
1250–1300; Middle English flusshen, first attested as past participle fluste, fliste; of uncertain origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for flushed
Contemporary Examples
He plucked them and flushed the feathers carefully, so as not to block up the toilets and draw attention.
Indoor plumbing also requires somewhere for the flushed waste to go.
At the defense table, Edwards covered his flushed face with his hands.
Discovering who gave the singer the drugs or who might have flushed them down the toilet will change little at this point.
That oil used in manufacturing the gauges had not been flushed out, and a residue remained.
Historical Examples
The face, neck, and arms of the modest maiden were flushed with indignant crimson.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Robert flushed with gratification at the high compliment conveyed in these words.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
This crystal pallor or a flushed joy—in one of the two she was most beautiful.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
He saw them laughing, flushed, silhouetted against the green, distant trees.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
He had not lost the fact that she had flushed when he spoke to her.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
flush1
- to blush or cause to blush
- to flow or flood or cause to flow or flood with or as if with water
- to glow or shine or cause to glow or shine with a rosy colour
- to send a volume of water quickly through (a pipe, channel, etc) or into (a toilet) for the purpose of cleansing, emptying, etc
- to cause (soluble substances in the soil) to be washed towards the surface, as by the action of underground springs, or (of such substances) to be washed towards the soil surface
- (tr; usually passive) to excite or elate
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- a rosy colour, esp in the cheeks; blush
- a sudden flow or gush, as of water
- a feeling of excitement or elationthe flush of success
- early bloom; freshnessthe flush of youth
- redness of the skin, esp of the face, as from the effects of a fever, alcohol, etc
- ecology an area of boggy land fed by ground water
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- having a ruddy or heightened colour
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Word Origin
C16 (in the sense: to gush forth): perhaps from flush ³
flush2
- level or even with another surface
- directly adjacent; continuous
- informal having plenty of money
- informal abundant or plentiful, as money
- full of vigour
- full to the brim or to the point of overflowing
- printing having an even margin, right or left, with no indentations
- (of a blow) accurately delivered
- (of a vessel) having no superstructure built above the flat level of the deck
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- so as to be level or even
- directly or squarely
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- to cause (surfaces) to be on the same level or in the same plane
- to enrich the diet of (an ewe) during the breeding season
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- a period of fresh growth of leaves, shoots, etc
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Word Origin
C18: probably from flush 1 (in the sense: spring out)
flush3
- (tr) to rouse (game, wild creatures, etc) and put to flight
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Word Origin
C13 flusshen, perhaps of imitative origin
flush4
- (in poker and similar games) a hand containing only one suit
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Word Origin
C16: from Old French flus, from Latin fluxus flux
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for flushed
flush
v.
"fly up suddenly," c.1300, perhaps imitative of the sound of beating wings, or related to flash via its variant flushe. Probably not connected to Old French flux, source of flush (n.).
Transitive meaning "to cause to fly, start" is first attested mid-15c. The sense of "spurt, rush out suddenly, flow with force" (1540s) is probably the same word, with the connecting notion being "sudden movement," but its senses seem more to fit the older ones of flash (now all transferred to this word except in flash flood). Meaning "cleanse a drain, etc., with a rush of water" is from 1789. The noun sense of "sudden redness in the face" (1620s) probably belongs here, too. The verb in this sense is from 1660s. "A very puzzling word" [Weekley]. Related: Flushed; flushing.
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flush
adj.
1550s, "perfect, faultless;" c.1600, "abundant; plentifully supplied (with money, etc.)," perhaps from flush (v.) through the notion of a river running full, hence level with its banks. Meaning "even, level" is from 1620s.
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flush
n.
"hand of cards all of one suit," 1520s, perhaps from Middle French flus (15c.), from Old French flux "a flowing," with the sense of "a run" (of cards), from Latin fluxus "flux," from fluere "to flow" (see fluent). The form in English probably was influenced by flush (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
flush
(flŭsh)- To turn red, as from fever, heat, or strong emotion; blush.
- To clean, rinse, or empty with a rapid flow of a liquid, especially water.
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- An act of cleansing or rinsing with a flow of water.
- A reddening of the skin, as with fever, emotion, or exertion.
- A brief sensation of heat over all or part of the body.
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- Having surfaces in the same plane; even.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.