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flow

flow

188 1.0
A steady movement of liquid or gas
  • noun
  • /floʊ/
translation icon : flujo
  • The river's flow was strong after the heavy rains, making it dangerous to cross.
  • water flow
  • flow rate
  • blood flow

But in the brain, the blood flow will get re rerouted.

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Examples

  • We observed the flow of the smoke rising steadily from the chimney.

  • So please excuse me while I open up the flow of gas.

  • It's Oh, that water flow is not good.

  • And we need to stop this easy flow of guns into the wrong hands.

  • It's about the safety of the flow from the entire region.

  • First, the heat must be spread by fluid flow through pipes throughout the territory.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Can't have the gas flow interrupted, or people's homes will go cold this winter.

  • This water lubricates the flow of the glacier, right?

  • The first was the steady south-by-southwest flow out of the Virginia and North Carolina tidewaters.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The engineer monitored the flow of water through the pipes to ensure there were no leaks.

Synonyms

current
vsflow
166 3.2

A steady flow of water, air, or ideas

is about steady continuous movement or amount of liquids or gases
run
vsflow
28 4.4

A flow of liquid pouring out from a place

refers to ongoing steady movement or amount rather than single episodes
circulation
vsflow
25 4.0

The movement of air or water through a system

is the general steady movement or amount not limited to systems
fluxion
vsflow
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A flow of liquid, often an unusual discharge from the body

is the neutral, modern term for continuous liquid or gas movement

Antonyms

38 4.1

Something that blocks a pipe or blood vessel and stops flow

1 6.5

Still water that does not move in pipes or lakes, causing poor quality

Compounds

cash flow
  • Specialized
69 3.4

Money that comes into and goes out of a business or person during a period

flow rate
  • Specialized
8 3.6

The amount of liquid or gas that passes a point in one minute

4 3.4

A diagram that shows the steps and decisions in a process using boxes and arrows

laminar flow
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A liquid or gas moves in smooth layers that flow side by side with little mixing

air flow
  • Specialized
1 2.8

Movement of air through a space or system

1 2.6

Air moving through a place or system

rate of flow
  • Specialized
1 3.7

How much liquid passes a point in a given time

1 3.6

Movement of sea or river water caused by the rising and falling tides

flow diagram
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A diagram that shows the order of steps in a process like a computer program

flow meter
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A device that measures how much liquid or gas moves through a pipe

menstrual flow
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Blood that comes from inside a woman's body each month during her period

axial flow turbine
  • Specialized
6.1

A machine with spinning blades that lets air or water flow along the shaft

flow sheet
  • Specialized
4.7

A diagram that shows the order of steps in a process, like a computer program or accounting system

7.2

A clean room where air moves in smooth parallel layers to keep tiny particles away during work like making microchips

8.4

A fast loss of money that puts a company at risk

A stream that never stops and cannot be controlled

streamline flow
  • Specialized
5.2

A steady flow of a liquid or gas where speed stays the same at every point

turbulent flow
  • Specialized
7.9

Fast, changing movement of water or air that makes swirls

work flow
  • Specialized
3.5

The order and speed that tasks are done at work

How Fast

stream
150 1.0
flow
188 1.0
drip
44 1.0

Surface Forms

flow singular
flows plural

Etymology

Flow comes from an old English verb flōwan meaning 'to run' or move like water, and it shares the root flu- found in fluid and fluent; so a 'flow' is a steady movement of liquid or gas, just like water running in a stream.