flow
♦♦ flow /fl'oʊ/ (flows flowing flowed)
1 [VERB] V adv/prep, V adv/prep, V
If a liquid, gas, or electrical current flows somewhere, it moves there steadily and continuously.
A stream flowed gently down into the valley...
The current flows into electric motors that drive the wheels.
...compressor stations that keep the gas flowing.
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
It works only in the veins, where the blood flow is slower.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv
If a number of people or things flow from one place to another, they move there steadily in large groups, usually without stopping.
Large numbers of refugees continue to flow from the troubled region into the no-man's land...
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
She watched the frantic flow of cars and buses along the street...
3 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If information or money flows somewhere, it moves freely between people or organizations.
A lot of this information flowed through other police departments...
An interest rate reduction is needed to get more money flowing and create jobs.
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
...the opportunity to control the flow of information.
see also cash flow
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
Someone who is in full flow is talking easily and continuously and seems likely to go on talking for some time.
He had been replying for some 40 minutes already and was still in full flow.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that an activity, or the person who is performing the activity, is in full flow, you mean that the activity has started and is being carried out with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.
Lunch at Harry's Bar was in full flow when Irene made a splendid entrance...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you go with the flow, you let things happen or let other people tell you what to do, rather than trying to control what happens yourself.
There's nothing I can do about the problem, so I might as well go with the flow.cash flow
also cashflow
[N-UNCOUNT]
The cash flow of a firm or business is the movement of money into and out of it. (BUSINESS)
A French-based pharmaceuticals company ran into cash-flow problems and faced liquidation.flow chart (flow charts)
[N-COUNT]
A flow chart or a flow diagram is a diagram which represents the sequence of actions in a particular process or activity.
1 [VERB] V adv/prep, V adv/prep, V
If a liquid, gas, or electrical current flows somewhere, it moves there steadily and continuously.
A stream flowed gently down into the valley...
The current flows into electric motors that drive the wheels.
...compressor stations that keep the gas flowing.
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
It works only in the veins, where the blood flow is slower.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv
If a number of people or things flow from one place to another, they move there steadily in large groups, usually without stopping.
Large numbers of refugees continue to flow from the troubled region into the no-man's land...
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
She watched the frantic flow of cars and buses along the street...
3 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If information or money flows somewhere, it moves freely between people or organizations.
A lot of this information flowed through other police departments...
An interest rate reduction is needed to get more money flowing and create jobs.
[N-VAR] with supp
Flow is also a noun.
...the opportunity to control the flow of information.
see also cash flow
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
Someone who is in full flow is talking easily and continuously and seems likely to go on talking for some time.
He had been replying for some 40 minutes already and was still in full flow.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that an activity, or the person who is performing the activity, is in full flow, you mean that the activity has started and is being carried out with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm.
Lunch at Harry's Bar was in full flow when Irene made a splendid entrance...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you go with the flow, you let things happen or let other people tell you what to do, rather than trying to control what happens yourself.
There's nothing I can do about the problem, so I might as well go with the flow.cash flow
also cashflow
[N-UNCOUNT]
The cash flow of a firm or business is the movement of money into and out of it. (BUSINESS)
A French-based pharmaceuticals company ran into cash-flow problems and faced liquidation.flow chart (flow charts)
[N-COUNT]
A flow chart or a flow diagram is a diagram which represents the sequence of actions in a particular process or activity.