flushes

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flush¹ /flʌʃ/   n. 

1. Physiology [countable] a reddening of the skin, as from fever or from exercise.
2. a sudden rise of emotion:
   [countable* usually singular] a flush of anger.
3. glowing freshness or vigor:
   [uncountable] a beautiful girl in the flush of youth.

v. 

4. to (cause to) redden: [no object]
   Her face flushed.
   [~ + object]
   Happiness flushed her face.
5. to flood or spray thoroughly with water:
   [~ (+ out) + object] to flush a pipe clean; flushed out the stables.
6. to (cause to) be washed with a sudden rush of water: [no object]
   the sound of a toilet flushing.
   [~ + object]
   flushed the toilet.
7. to animate;
   inflame:
   [~ + object] flushed with success.

flush² /flʌʃ/   adj. 

1. even or level with a surface:
   The window frame is flush with the wall.
2. immediately next to:
   The table was flush against the wall.
3. well-supplied;
   prosperous:
   felt flush with so much money.

adv. 

4. on the same level or plane;
   evenly:
   The door shuts flush with the wall.
5. in direct contact:
   set flush against the edge.

flush³ /flʌʃ/   v. [~ + object]

1. Sport to cause to start up or fly off:
   The hunters flushed quail.

flush⁴ /flʌʃ/  n. [countable]

1. Games a hand of cards all of one suit:
   Your flush beats my straight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flush¹  (flush), n. 

1. Physiology a blush;
   rosy glow:
   a flush of embarrassment on his face.
2. a rushing or overspreading flow, as of water.
3. a sudden rise of emotion or excitement:
   a flush of anger.
4. glowing freshness or vigor:
   the flush of youth.
5. Physiology hot flush. See hot flash. 
6. Automotive a cleansing preparation that acts by flushing:
   an oil flush for the car's engine.

v.t. 

7. to redden;
   cause to blush or glow:
   Winter air flushed the children's cheeks.
8. to flood or spray thoroughly with water, as for cleansing purposes:
   They flushed the wall with water and then scrubbed it down.
9. to wash out (a sewer, toilet, etc.) by a sudden rush of water.
10. 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.
11. to animate or excite;
    inflame:
    flushed with success.

v.i. 

12. Physiology to blush;
    redden.
13. to flow with a rush;
    flow and spread suddenly.
14. to operate by flushing;
    undergo flushing:
    The toilet won't flush.

• 1540–50; perh. extended senses of flush³; compare similar phonesthemic elements and meanings of blush, gush, flash

flush′a•ble, adj. 
flush′er, n. 
flush′ing•ly, adv. 
flush′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. . access, rush, flood, impulse, thrill.

flush²  (flush), adj. 

1. even or level, as with a surface;
   forming the same plane:
   The bottom of the window is flush with the floor.
2. having direct contact;
   being right next to;
   immediately adjacent;
   contiguous:
   The table was flush against the wall.
3. well-supplied, as with money;
   affluent;
   prosperous:
   He was feeling flush on payday.
4. abundant or plentiful, as money.
5. having a ruddy or reddish color;
   blushing.
6. full of vigor;
   lusty.
7. full to overflowing.
8. Printing even or level with the right margin (flush right) or the left margin (flush left) of the type page;
   without an indention.

adv. 

9. on the same level;
   in a straight line;
   without a change of plane:
   to be made flush with the top of the table.
10. in direct contact;
    squarely:
    It was set flush against the edge.

v.t. 

11. to make flush or even.
12. to improve the nutrition of (a ewe) to bring on optimum physiological conditions for breeding.

v.i. 

13. to send out shoots, as plants in spring.

n. 

14. a fresh growth, as of shoots and leaves.

• perh. all sense developments of flush¹ 1540–50

flush′ness, n. 

flush³  (flush), [Hunting.]
v.t. 

1. Sport to rouse and cause to start up or fly off:
   to flush a woodcock.

v.i. 

2. Sport to fly out or start up suddenly.

n. 

3. Sport a flushed bird or flock of birds.

• 1250–1300; Middle English flusshen, first attested as past participle fluste, fliste; of uncertain origin, originally

flush⁴  (flush), [Cards.]
adj. 

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

n. 

2. Games a hand or set of cards all of one suit. Cf. royal flush, straight flush.
3. Games [Pinochle.] a meld of ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the trump suit. Cf. marriage (def. 8), royal marriage. 

• Latin fluxus flux
• compare French (obsolete) flus, variant of flux flow, flush (compare phrase run of cards) 1520–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flush / flʌʃ/ verb

1. to blush or cause to blush
2. to flow or flood or cause to flow or flood with or as if with water
3. to glow or shine or cause to glow or shine with a rosy colour
4. to send a volume of water quickly through (a pipe, channel, etc) or into (a toilet) for the purpose of cleansing, emptying, etc
5. (tr; usually passive) to excite or elate

noun

1. a rosy colour, esp in the cheeks; blush
2. a sudden flow or gush, as of water
3. a feeling of excitement or elation: the flush of success
4. early bloom; freshness: the flush of youth
5. redness of the skin, esp of the face, as from the effects of a fever, alcohol, etc

Etymology: 16th Century (in the sense: to gush forth): perhaps from flush³

ˈflusher noun

flush / flʌʃ/ adjective (usually postpositive)

level or even with another surface

directly adjacent; continuous

having plenty of money

abundant or plentiful, as money

full of vigour

full to the brim or to the point of overflowing

adverb

1. so as to be level or even
2. directly or squarely

verb (transitive)

1. to cause (surfaces) to be on the same level or in the same plane

noun

1. a period of fresh growth of leaves, shoots, etc

Etymology: 18th Century: probably from flush¹ (in the sense: spring out)

ˈflushness noun

flush / flʌʃ/ verb

1. (transitive) to rouse (game, wild creatures, etc) and put to flight

Etymology: 13th Century flusshen, perhaps of imitative origin

flush / flʌʃ/ noun

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

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French flus, from Latin fluxus flux