flow
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++flow1 /fləʊ $ floʊ/ ●●● S3 W2 noun 1 liquid/gas/electricity 液体/气体/电 [countable usually singular]LIQUID a smooth steady movement of liquid, gas, or electricity 〔液体、气体或电的〕流动，流flow of He struggled to swim against the flow of the water. 他逆着水流拼命地往前游。 I tied a towel round his leg to try to stem the flow of blood. 我在他腿上包扎了块毛巾止血。2 traffic 交通 [countable usually singular, uncountable]PROVIDE the steady movement of traffic 车流 a new road system to improve traffic flow through the city centre 疏导市中心车流的新道路系统3 goods/people/information 商品/人/信息 [countable usually singular] the movement of goods, people, or information from one place to another 〔商品、人或信息的〕流动flow of the flow of funds from the US to Europe 从美国向欧洲的资金流动 There has been a steady flow of people leaving the area. 该地区人口持续外流。 They have accused the government of trying to block the free flow of information. 他们指责政府试图阻止信息的自由流通。 an attempt to stem the flow of refugees across the border 阻止难民潮跨越边境的尝试4 speech/writing 言语/文章 [uncountable]CONTINUOUS the continuous stream of words or ideas when someone is speaking, writing, or thinking about something 〔语言、思路等的〕连贯 I didn’t want to interrupt her flow, so I said nothing. 我不想打断她的话头，所以什么也没有说。5 of the sea 大海的 [singular]DN the regular movement of the sea towards the land 涨潮 the ebb and flow of the tide 潮水的涨落6. in full flow informalTALK TO somebody if someone is in full flow, they are busy talking about something and seem likely to continue for a long time 口若悬河，谈兴正浓7 go with the flow SAMEto agree that you will do the thing that most people want to do 随大溜，从众 I don’t mind, I’ll just go with the flow. 我无所谓，就随大家好了。8. go against the flow DIFFERENTto do something very different from what other people are doing 逆潮流而动，背道而驰 → cash flow, → ebb and flow at ebb1(3)
Examples from the Corpus
flow• the ebb and flow of the tide• And it is bad for his cash flow.• Sink mixers have divided flow so that the hot and cold water do not mix until they have left the tap.• a lava flow• The momentum derives not from a lulling flow or titillating suspense but from astoundingly acrobatic leaps from perch to perch.• Money flow measures the volume of shares traded every time a stock goes up or down.• The civil war has severely disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.• Under the function-oriented approach to the flow of authority, the night cashiers work for a head cashier.• the flow of oil from the Middle East• The road repairs should not affect traffic flow.stem ... flow• Rose stemmed the flow, encouraged the ebb, and he allowed it to be that way.• She stemmed the flow of tears that came, knowing they would sting his body.• After the game Kasparov said that Karpov had to play 24 ... d3 to stem the flow of the White attack.• But that is not likely to do much to stem the flow.• The brigadier tried to stem the flow with a tourniquet.• Sandbags were used to stem the flow but several corridors were soon under water.• To stem the flow, he advocates strict trade protections, including high tariffs on imported goods.stem ... flow• Rose stemmed the flow, encouraged the ebb, and he allowed it to be that way.• She stemmed the flow of tears that came, knowing they would sting his body.• After the game Kasparov said that Karpov had to play 24 ... d3 to stem the flow of the White attack.• But that is not likely to do much to stem the flow.• The brigadier tried to stem the flow with a tourniquet.• Sandbags were used to stem the flow but several corridors were soon under water.• To stem the flow, he advocates strict trade protections, including high tariffs on imported goods.interrupt ... flow• Remember here that some people do not like seeing you write down their words for it interrupts their flow of thought.• At least it interrupts the flow of retired vice- marshalls.• I had to interrupt her flow of catastrophes to suggest that we try to understand what was going on beneath the surface.• Do this as a separate routine after writing if you are concerned not to interrupt the flow of composition.• For example, Dickens is fond of parenthetical constructions which allow the generalizing authorial voice to interrupt the narrative flow.• There are some folks who believe the two two-minute intermissions unnecessarily interrupted the flow of the film.• The pads can be inserted into an undergravel set up as a gravel tidy without interrupting the free flow of water.ebb and flow• There is always an ebb and flow, an inner energy used to enhance mood and expression.• But he related well to me, although his engagement ebbed and flowed.• Inside the room I saw the pulsing ebb and flow of light that meant a fire.• In the harbour you got a secondary ebb and flow between the main tides.• A moaning north wind that ebbed and flowed like the sound of surf and ocean waves.• Nixon always will remain a vivid figure for those of us who watched the ebb and flow of his remarkable career.• The ebb and flow of controversy in television news items did not produce corresponding trends in public interest and discussion.• It was ebb and flow, up and down, punch and counterpunch that didn't want to end.flow2 ●●● W3 verb [intransitive] 1 liquid/gas/electricity 液体/气体/电DNGO when a liquid, gas, or electricity flows, it moves in a steady continuous stream 流，流动flow over/down/through etc These gates regulate the amount of water flowing into the canal. 这些闸门调节流入运河的水量。 If the windows are shut, air cannot flow freely through the building. 要是关闭窗户，空气就无法在大楼里自由流通。2 goods/people/information 商品/人/信息 [always + adverb/preposition]GO if goods, people, or information flow from one place to another, they move there in large numbers or amounts 流动；流传 SYN pour, flood Money has been flowing into the country from Western aid agencies. 资金源源不断地从西方援助机构流入该国。 The number of refugees flowing into the area is still increasing. 流入该地区的难民数量仍在上升。3 traffic 交通TTEASY if traffic flows, it moves easily from one place to another 〔车辆〕畅通无阻 The new one-way system should help the traffic to flow better. 新的单行道系统应可使车流更加畅通。4 alcohol 酒DRINK if alcohol flows at a party, people drink a lot and there is a lot available 源源不绝，饮之不尽 Beer and whisky flowed freely as the evening wore on. 夜越来越深，啤酒和威士忌也越喝越多。5 words/ideas 词语/想法CONTINUOUS if conversation or ideas flow, people talk or have ideas steadily and continuously, without anything stopping or interrupting them 〔谈话或思路〕流畅 Everyone was relaxed and the conversation flowed freely. 所有人都很放松，畅所欲言。6 sea 大海 when the sea flows, it moves towards the land 〔潮水〕涨起 We watched the tide ebb and flow. 我们看着潮起潮落。7 feelings 感情FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC if a feeling flows through you or over you, you feel it strongly 充满，传遍8 clothes/hair 衣服/头发DCBGRACEFUL if clothing or hair flows, it falls or hangs loosely and gracefully 〔衣服、头发〕松松垂下，飘拂9 flow from something COME FROM/ORIGINATEto happen as a result of something 来自某物，产生于某物，源于某物n THESAURUSflow if liquid flows, it moves in a steady continuous streamBlood flowed from his hand.The river flows very quickly at this point.run to flow – used when saying that something flows in a particular directionWater was running down the walls of the room.Sweat ran off his nose.The river runs into the sea.come out to flow out of somethingYou couldn't drink any of the water that came out of the tap.pour to flow in large quantitiesThe rain poured down.Blood was pouring from a wound on his head.gush to flow out quickly in very large quantitiesWater was gushing out at more than 3000 gallons a minute.spurt to flow out suddenly with a lot of forceOil was spurting from a small hole in the pipe.trickle to flow slowly in drops or in a thin streamClare felt sweat trickling down the back of her neck.leak to flow in or out through a small hole or crack, usually when this is not meant to happenOil was leaking from the engine.ooze to flow from something very slowly – used about blood or a thick liquidBlood was oozing from the wound.Jam oozed out as she bit into the cake.drip to fall in dropsWater dripped from the tap continuously.cascade to flow down the side of something in large amountsWater cascades down the hillside.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
flow• The widened freeway should help keep traffic flowing.• If I change this paragraph, do you think it will flow better?• Tears flowed down her cheeks as she hugged her children.• Everyone got along well, and the scripts flowed easily.• Boswell's unhappiness flowed from his own unsteady and volatile character.• The conversation flowed from one topic to another.• Oil flowed from the tanker into the sea.• The managers were responsible for seeing that information and resources flowed in both directions, as needed.• Applications have been flowing into the Manor Ground but no moves have yet been made.• The river flows more slowly here and it is safe to swim.• Here in the slow movement she allowed the gentle principal theme to flow naturally and above all musically.• From here, factory waste flows straight into the sea.• Does he agree that that contrasts with the breath of fresh air that is now flowing through our universities and polytechnics?• Natural gas fed through the spud drillings are rapidly and intimately mixed with combustion air flowing through the burner throat.• The professor was likable, it was the sixties, not having your creative juices flowing was understandable.flow freely• Cecilia viuda is highly charged emotionally and tears flow freely.• In Berlin, Friedrichstrasse meets Zimmerstrasse at a very ordinary road junction across which traffic flows freely.• Beer and whisky flowed freely, amid much back-slapping and bonhomie.• Watch the blood flow freely and smoothly through the muscles.• Information can flow freely between members, as a result of the personal contacts established within these groups.• Blood welled, flowed freely down the corpse's sides.• John Carroll rightly reminded others that Catholic blood had flowed freely during the war.• But the fountain was flowing freely this morning.• Tears still flow freely when Sara thinks of her mother.flowed freely• From there on, they all relaxed and conversation flowed freely.• Over the previous five years, where had the greatest money flowed freely?• The festivities began with cocktails in the candlelit general manager's room where Prosecco and Martini flowed freely.• Beer and whisky flowed freely, amid much back-slapping and bonhomie.• Talk flowed freely around the table.• Blood welled, flowed freely down the corpse's sides.• John Carroll rightly reminded others that Catholic blood had flowed freely during the war.• The wine flowed freely, my pile of silver grew.flowed freely• From there on, they all relaxed and conversation flowed freely.• Over the previous five years, where had the greatest money flowed freely?• The festivities began with cocktails in the candlelit general manager's room where Prosecco and Martini flowed freely.• Beer and whisky flowed freely, amid much back-slapping and bonhomie.• Talk flowed freely around the table.• Blood welled, flowed freely down the corpse's sides.• John Carroll rightly reminded others that Catholic blood had flowed freely during the war.• The wine flowed freely, my pile of silver grew.ebb and flow• But he related well to me, although his engagement ebbed and flowed.• There is always an ebb and flow, an inner energy used to enhance mood and expression.• In the harbour you got a secondary ebb and flow between the main tides.• A moaning north wind that ebbed and flowed like the sound of surf and ocean waves.• The ebb and flow of controversy in television news items did not produce corresponding trends in public interest and discussion.• Nixon always will remain a vivid figure for those of us who watched the ebb and flow of his remarkable career.• Inside the room I saw the pulsing ebb and flow of light that meant a fire.• It was ebb and flow, up and down, punch and counterpunch that didn't want to end.flow through/over• The Drina River flows through Gorazde and there are wells.• The defeat opened the sluice gates and venom flowed through in raging torrents.• I went down like a diver submerging, the floor flowed over my head.• So I Nureyeved the front steps and flowed through the door in a single motion of Yale and Chubb.• After the gas has flowed through the indoor coil and given up its heat, it condenses back to a liquid state.• More important, the pores in some rocks are either large or join up so that water can flow through them easily.• However, any benefit from this will not flow through until later in the year.From Longman Business Dictionaryflowflow /fləʊfloʊ/ verb [intransitive]1if money flows somewhere, such as into a bank account or into a particular country, it is moved thereflow from/into/between etcA record $10 billion in foreign capital flowed into Mexican stocks last year.Throughout the summer, new savings flowed away from building society accounts.Investment trust money has been flowing back into blue chip companies such as Sony and Honda.2formal if an event or action flows from something, it is caused by itflow fromThe regulations which flowed from the Charities Act forced charities to improve their accounts.3if information or ideas flow, people start to exchange information or their ideas so that they can discuss themThe meeting was relaxed and suggestions soon started to flow.→ See Verb tableOrigin flow2 Old English flowanflow1 nounflow2 verb →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
movement of Business liquid, smooth or Corpus steady gas, electricity a
flow
flow1 S3 W2 /fləʊ $ floʊ/ 
noun
1. LIQUID/GAS/ELECTRICITY [countable usually singular] a smooth steady movement of liquid, gas, or electricity
flow of
He struggled to swim against the flow of the water.
I tied a towel round his leg to try to stem the flow of blood.
2. TRAFFIC [countable usually singular, uncountable] the steady movement of traffic:
a new road system to improve traffic flow through the city centre
3. GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION [countable usually singular] the movement of goods, people, or information from one place to another
flow of
the flow of funds from the US to Europe
There has been a steady flow of people leaving the area.
They have accused the government of trying to block the free flow of information.
an attempt to stem the flow of refugees across the border
4. SPEECH/WRITING [uncountable] the continuous stream of words or ideas when someone is speaking, writing, or thinking about something:
I didn’t want to interrupt her flow, so I said nothing.
5. OF THE SEA [singular] the regular movement of the sea towards the land:
the ebb and flow of the tide
6. in full flow informal if someone is in full flow, they are busy talking about something and seem likely to continue for a long time
7. go with the flow to agree that you will do the thing that most people want to do:
I don’t mind, I’ll just go with the flow.
8. go against the flow to do something very different from what other people are doing
⇨ cash flow, ⇨ ebb and flow at ebb1(3)
flow2 W3 verb [intransitive]
flow over/down/through etc
These gates regulate the amount of water flowing into the canal.
If the windows are shut, air cannot flow freely through the building.
2. GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION [always + adverb/preposition] if goods, people, or information flow from one place to another, they move there in large numbers or amounts
SYN pour, flood:
Money has been flowing into the country from Western aid agencies.
The number of refugees flowing into the area is still increasing.
3. TRAFFIC if traffic flows, it moves easily from one place to another:
The new one-way system should help the traffic to flow better.
4. ALCOHOL if alcohol flows at a party, people drink a lot and there is a lot available:
Beer and whisky flowed freely as the evening wore on.
5. WORDS/IDEAS if conversation or ideas flow, people talk or have ideas steadily and continuously, without anything stopping or interrupting them:
Everyone was relaxed and the conversation flowed freely.
6. SEA when the sea flows, it moves towards the land:
We watched the tide ebb and flow.
7. FEELINGS if a feeling flows through you or over you, you feel it strongly
flow through/over
She felt hot rage flowing through her.
8. CLOTHES/HAIR if clothing or hair flows, it falls or hangs loosely and gracefully:
Her long hair flowed down her back.
9. flow from something to happen as a result of something:
the political consequences that flowed from this decision
▪ flow if liquid flows, it moves in a steady continuous stream: Blood flowed from his hand. | The river flows very quickly at this point.
▪run to flow – used when saying that something flows in a particular direction: Water was running down the walls of the room. | Sweat ran off his nose. | The river runs into the sea.
▪come out to flow out of something: You couldn't drink any of the water that came out of the tap.
▪pour to flow in large quantities: The rain poured down. | Blood was pouring from a wound on his head.
▪gush to flow out quickly in very large quantities: Water was gushing out at more than 3000 gallons a minute.
▪spurt to flow out suddenly with a lot of force: Oil was spurting from a small hole in the pipe.
▪trickle to flow slowly in drops or in a thin stream: Clare felt sweat trickling down the back of her neck.
▪leak to flow in or out through a small hole or crack, usually when this is not meant to happen: Oil was leaking from the engine.
▪ooze to flow from something very slowly – used about blood or a thick liquid: Blood was oozing from the wound. | Jam oozed out as she bit into the cake.
▪drip to fall in drops: Water dripped from the tap continuously.
▪cascade to flow down the side of something in large amounts: Water cascades down the hilllside.
| I |
noun1. LIQUID/GAS/ELECTRICITY [countable usually singular] a smooth steady movement of liquid, gas, or electricity
flow of
2. TRAFFIC [countable usually singular, uncountable] the steady movement of traffic:
3. GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION [countable usually singular] the movement of goods, people, or information from one place to another
flow of
4. SPEECH/WRITING [uncountable] the continuous stream of words or ideas when someone is speaking, writing, or thinking about something:
5. OF THE SEA [singular] the regular movement of the sea towards the land:
6. in full flow informal if someone is in full flow, they are busy talking about something and seem likely to continue for a long time
7. go with the flow to agree that you will do the thing that most people want to do:
8. go against the flow to do something very different from what other people are doing
⇨ cash flow, ⇨ ebb and flow at ebb1(3)
| II |
verb [intransitive] Language: Old English
Origin: flowan
1. LIQUID/GAS/ELECTRICITY when a liquid, gas, or electricity flows, it moves in a steady continuous streamOrigin: flowan
flow over/down/through etc
2. GOODS/PEOPLE/INFORMATION [always + adverb/preposition] if goods, people, or information flow from one place to another, they move there in large numbers or amounts
SYN pour, flood:
3. TRAFFIC if traffic flows, it moves easily from one place to another:
4. ALCOHOL if alcohol flows at a party, people drink a lot and there is a lot available:
5. WORDS/IDEAS if conversation or ideas flow, people talk or have ideas steadily and continuously, without anything stopping or interrupting them:
6. SEA when the sea flows, it moves towards the land:
7. FEELINGS if a feeling flows through you or over you, you feel it strongly
flow through/over
8. CLOTHES/HAIR if clothing or hair flows, it falls or hangs loosely and gracefully:
9. flow from something to happen as a result of something:
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