Tra từ flow - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

flow [flow flows flowed flowing] noun, verb BrE [fləʊ] NAmE [floʊ]
noun countable, usually singular, uncountable

CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT
1. ~ (of sth/sb) the steady and continuous movement of sth/sb in one direction
• She tried to stop the flow of blood from the wound.
•an endless flow of refugees into the country
•to improve traffic flow (= make it move faster)
•to control the direction of flow
•a steady flow of traffic through the city
•the flow of an electric current

PRODUCTION/SUPPLY
2. ~ (of sth) the continuous production or supply of sth
•the flow of goods and services to remote areas
•to encourage the free flow of information
•data flow
see also ↑cash flow

OF SPEECH/WRITING
3. continuous talk by sb
• You've interrupted my flow— I can't remember what I was saying.
•As usual, Tom was in full flow.
4. ~ of sth the way that words and ideas are linked together in speech or writing
• Too many examples can interrupt the smooth flow of the text.
• I found it hard to follow the flow of the argument.

OF THE SEA
5. the movement of the sea towards the land
•the ebb and flow of the tide
more at ebb and flow at ↑ebb _n.

Word Origin:
Old English flōwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloeien, also to ↑flood.

Thesaurus:
flow noun
1. U, C, usually sing.
•There was a swift flow of air through the room.
current • • circulation • |formal passage •
against/with the flow/current
a/the flow/current/circulation/passage of water/air
a/the flow/current/passage of electricity
the flow/circulation of blood
2. C, usually sing., U
•an uninterrupted flow of traffic
stream • • tide • • trickle •
a flow/stream (of sb/sth) into/through sth
a steady/constant flow/stream/trickle
halt/control the flow/tide
go/swim against the flow/tide

Example Bank:
•Changes in the flow of patients have reduced the number of beds available.
•First cut off the water flow from the boiler.
•He kept up a flow of chatter.
•He was at the mercy of the ebb and flow of public opinion.
•I liked the concerto for its natural flow.
•Our shower doesn't work very well because of the poor water flow.
•She joined the flow of immigrants to the country.
•She tried to interrupt his speech, but he was already in full flow.
•Squeeze the tube of sealant slowly to obtain an even flow.
•The company is trying to enhance its cash flow.
•The continual bombing disrupted the flow of supplies to the ground troops.
•The flow rate was measured at 9.5 gallons per second.
•The main flow of water has been diverted to a new course.
•The system provides a continuous flow of information to the market.
•They have to swim against the flow of the river.
•They tried to staunch the flow of blood.
•Use a wide pipe to ensure an adequate flow of water.
•We like to allow a free flow of ideas in our company.
•a constant flow of information
•air flows around the wings of an aircraft
•information flow among all the different groups
•the flow of data through the system
•the outward flow of investment from the country
•the rate of flow of water through the pipe
•the uninterrupted flow of traffic
•to encourage the flow of revenue into the country
•to maintain an even flow of work through the department
•An uninterrupted flow of traffic prevented us from getting to the other side.
•He was able to take advantage of the ebb and flow of politics to consolidate his position.
•The flow of adrenalin can help the mind to react quickly in a moment of stress.
•The whole operation depends on a steady flow of electricity.
•There was a continuous flow of refugees across the border.
•There was a swift flow of air through the room.
•They extended the raids in an attempt to interrupt the flow of men and supplies to the enemy lines.
•We need further measures to increase traffic flow.
Idiom: ↑go with the flow
Derived: ↑flow from something

verb

MOVE CONTINUOUSLY
1. intransitive (of liquid, gas or electricity)to move steadily and continuously in one direction
• She lost control and the tears began to flow.
•+ adv./prep. It's here that the river flows down into the ocean.
•Blood flowed from a cut on her head.
•This can prevent air from flowing freely to the lungs.
•the electric currents flowing through the cables
2. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) (of people or things)to move or pass continuously from one place or person to another, especially in large numbers or amounts
• Constant streams of traffic flowed past.
• Election results flowed in throughout the night.
•They examined the way in which information flowed between the firm's 300 employees.

OF IDEAS/CONVERSATION
3. intransitive to develop or be produced in an easy and natural way
•Conversation flowed freely throughout the meal.
•We hope that the debate on this issue will continue to flow.

BE AVAILABLE EASILY
4. intransitive to be available easily and in large amounts
•It was obvious that money flowed freely in their family.
•The party got livelier as the drink began to flow.

OF FEELING
5. intransitive + adv./prep. to be felt strongly by sb
•Fear and excitement suddenly flowed over me.
•He envied the affection that flowed between the boy and the old man.

OF CLOTHES/HAIR
6. intransitive ~ (down/over sth) to hang loosely and freely
•Her hair flowed down over her shoulders.
•long flowing skirts

OF THE SEA
7. intransitive (of the ↑tide in the sea/ocean)to come in towards the land
Opp: ↑ebb _v.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English flōwan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloeien, also to ↑flood.

Thesaurus:
flow verb I
•It's here that the river flows down to the ocean.
run • • stream • • pour • • circulate • • gush • • pump • • spurt • • trickle • |written cascade •
water flows/runs/streams/pours/circulates/gushes/spurts/trickles/cascades
blood flows/runs/streams/pours/circulates/gushes/pumps/spurts/trickles
tears flow/run/stream/pour/gush/trickle
light flows/streams/pours

Example Bank:
•Blood was still flowing from the wound.
•Her long hair flowed in the wind as she ran.
•Imported food aid continued to flow in.
•In a good production of the play, the action and the words flow naturally.
•Information flows continuously through the network.
•One day seemed to flow into the next.
•Some of these changes will flow directly from the legislation.
•The best thing is when ideas flow in both directions.
•The number of buyers has ebbed and flowed.
•The river flows quite fast here.
•The sea ebbed and flowed.
•The songs flow seamlessly into one another.
•We talked, and the conversation flowed freely.
•Wine and beer flowed freely.
•a small stream that flowed down the hillside
•to get blood flowing to the brain
•He lost control and the tears began to flow.
•It's here that the river flows down into the ocean.
•The current flowing in a circuit is measured by connecting an ammeter.