flush

[ fluhsh ]

/ flʌʃ /

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See synonyms for: flush / flushed / flushing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to blush; redden.

to flow with a rush; flow and spread suddenly.

to operate by flushing; undergo flushing: The toilet won't flush.

OTHER WORDS FOR flush

3 access, rush, flood, impulse, thrill.

See synonyms for flush on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of flush

First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps extended senses of flush³; compare sound sequences and meanings of blush, gush, flash

OTHER WORDS FROM flush

flush·a·ble, adjectiveflusher, nounflush·ing·ly, adverbflushness, noun

Other definitions for flush (2 of 4)

flush²

[ fluhsh ]

/ flʌʃ /

adjective

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.

adverb

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.

verb (used with object)

to make flush or even.

to improve the nutrition of (a ewe) to bring on optimum physiological conditions for breeding.

verb (used without object)

to send out shoots, as plants in spring.

noun

a fresh growth, as of shoots and leaves.

Origin of flush

First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps all sense developments of flush¹

OTHER WORDS FROM flush

flush·ness, noun

Other definitions for flush (3 of 4)

flush³

[ fluhsh ]

/ flʌʃ /

verb (used with object)

to drive (a game bird or other animal) from cover and cause to fly off or spring forth suddenly; rouse: to flush a woodcock;to flush a bear from a thicket.

to force (a person) out of hiding: The troops have flushed the rebels from their bases.

verb (used without object)

to fly off or spring forth suddenly from a hiding place; come out of hiding.

noun

a flushed bird or other animal, or a group of them.

the act of driving or forcing an animal or person from a hiding place.

Origin of flush

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English flusshen, first attested as past participle fluste, fliste; of uncertain origin

Other definitions for flush (4 of 4)

flush⁴

[ fluhsh ]

/ flʌʃ /

Cards.

adjective

consisting entirely of cards of one suit: a flush hand.

noun

a hand or set of cards all of one suit.Compare royal flush, straight flush.

Pinochle. a meld of ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit.Compare marriage (def. 9), royal marriage.

Origin of flush

⁴

First recorded in 1520–30; compare French (obsolete) flus, variant of flux “flow, flush” (compare phrase run of cards), from Latin fluxus “a flowing”; see flux

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use flush in a sentence

While many of us simply flush and forget about it, our pee has the potential to be a valuable resource.
Your pee could be the golden ticket to a greener world|Ula Chrobak|November 19, 2020|Popular-Science
Tree-lined Madison Campground, managed by Xanterra, is the most centrally located and provides creature comforts like picnic tables, running water, and flush toilets for adventurous RV and tent campers.
Yellowstone National Park Is a Geyser Wonderland|Emily Pennington|November 18, 2020|Outside Online
Tuck the overhang under, pressing gently to make it flush with the edge of the pie plate, crimp as you like.
Decorate this caramel apple pie with festive, buttery pastry cutouts|Erin Jeanne McDowell|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Ordinary water flushed through narrow tubes became denser and thicker, boiled at higher than normal temperatures and froze at much lower temperatures than usual.
These are science’s Top 10 erroneous results|Tom Siegfried|November 10, 2020|Science News

It’s that time of year again, when the winter rains come flushing months’ worth of grime from San Diego’s streets through storm drains straight into the ocean.
Environment Report: Coastal Neighborhoods Supported Measure E Least|MacKenzie Elmer|November 9, 2020|Voice of San Diego
He plucked them and flushed the feathers carefully, so as not to block up the toilets and draw attention.
Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison|Daniel Genis|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The young fellow flushed with embarrassment and smiled uneasily.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Oddly enough, this disposing of contraband was the only time many flushed the toilets at all.
Cruise Ships: They’re Just Floating Bathrooms|Brian David Bruns|February 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Indoor plumbing also requires somewhere for the flushed waste to go.
What's Better: Cell Phones or Indoor Toilets?|Megan McArdle|January 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At the defense table, Edwards covered his flushed face with his hands.
Ex-Staffers Claim That Elizabeth Edwards Knew About John’s Infidelity|Diane Dimond|May 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She was flushed and felt intoxicated with the sound of her own voice and the unaccustomed taste of candor.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Father Gaspara was about to ask another question, when Ramona appeared in the doorway, flushed with running.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
His face flushed with annoyance, and taking off his soft hat he began to beat it impatiently against his leg as he walked.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Blanche stood an instant looking into the lighted room and hesitating—flushed a little, smiling, extremely pretty.
Confidence|Henry James
Lady Maude advanced; she had really come in by accident; her head was bent, her eyelashes rested on her flushed cheeks.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for flush (1 of 4)

flush¹

/ (flʌʃ) /

verb

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

noun

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

adjective

having a ruddy or heightened colour

Derived forms of flush

flusher, noun

Word Origin for flush

C16 (in the sense: to gush forth): perhaps from flush ³

British Dictionary definitions for flush (2 of 4)

flush²

/ (flʌʃ) /

adjective (usually postpositive)

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

adverb

so as to be level or even

directly or squarely

verb (tr)

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

noun

a period of fresh growth of leaves, shoots, etc

Derived forms of flush

flushness, noun

Word Origin for flush

C18: probably from flush 1 (in the sense: spring out)

British Dictionary definitions for flush (3 of 4)

flush³

/ (flʌʃ) /

verb

(tr) to rouse (game, wild creatures, etc) and put to flight

Word Origin for flush

C13 flusshen, perhaps of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for flush (4 of 4)

flush⁴

/ (flʌʃ) /

noun

(in poker and similar games) a hand containing only one suit

Word Origin for flush

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

Medical definitions for flush

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.

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.

adj.

Having surfaces in the same plane; even.

flush

OTHER WORDS FOR flush

Origin of flush

OTHER WORDS FROM flush

Other definitions for flush (2 of 4)

Origin of flush

OTHER WORDS FROM flush

Other definitions for flush (3 of 4)

Origin of flush

Other definitions for flush (4 of 4)

Origin of flush

Words related to flush

How to use flush in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flush (1 of 4)

Derived forms of flush

Word Origin for flush

British Dictionary definitions for flush (2 of 4)

Derived forms of flush

Word Origin for flush

British Dictionary definitions for flush (3 of 4)

Word Origin for flush

British Dictionary definitions for flush (4 of 4)

Word Origin for flush

Medical definitions for flush