Flush
/flʌʃ/
Definitions
6 meaningsTo become red in the face; to blush.
/flʌʃ/
To become red in the face, often due to emotion or heat.
He flushed with anger when he heard the accusation.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really embarrassed or hot. Your face might turn red, like a tomato! That's a flush.
👶 For kids: When your face turns red because you're hot or shy.
More Examples
Her cheeks flushed with excitement at the news.
The athlete flushed after the intense workout.
How It's Used
"The patient flushed with fever."
"She flushed with embarrassment when she realized her mistake."
To wash out or clean out (a channel, drain, etc.) with a sudden flow of water; to cleanse or purify.
/flʌʃ/
To flow or cause to flow suddenly and abundantly.
She flushed the toilet after using it.
💡 Simply: Like when you push the handle on the toilet and the water cleans everything away. That's flushing!
👶 For kids: To make something clean with a lot of water.
More Examples
The river flushed out the debris from the storm.
The doctor flushed the wound to remove any infection.
How It's Used
"He flushed the toilet."
"The irrigation system flushed the fields with water."
To cause (a bird or other animal) to start up from its cover and fly or run.
/flʌʃ/
To cause (an animal, especially a game bird) to take flight from cover.
The hunter flushed a covey of quail.
💡 Simply: If you're hunting, flushing is when you scare an animal out of where it's hiding so you can try to catch it.
👶 For kids: To scare an animal so it runs or flies away.
More Examples
The dog flushed a rabbit from the undergrowth.
The sudden noise flushed the birds from the trees.
How It's Used
"The dogs flushed the pheasant from the bushes."
A sudden flow, as of blood to the face; a blush; a reddening.
/flʌʃ/
A reddish glow or blush.
A sudden flush came over her face.
💡 Simply: When your face gets red because you're embarrassed or excited, that's a flush.
👶 For kids: A red face.
More Examples
He had a flush from the heat.
The doctor noted a facial flush in the patient.
How It's Used
"The patient exhibited a facial flush due to fever."
"A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks."
A sudden flow or rush.
/flʌʃ/
A sudden rush or flow.
A flush of water poured over the deck.
💡 Simply: A sudden rush of something, like water.
👶 For kids: A quick rush.
More Examples
The town experienced a flush of tourists during the festival.
There was a flush of new orders after the promotion.
How It's Used
"A flush of water washed over the deck."
Level or even with another surface.
/flʌʃ/
The door is flush with the wall.
💡 Simply: When two things are perfectly level with each other, not sticking out or going in.
👶 For kids: When two things are the same height and lined up.
More Examples
The tiles are installed flush.
Make sure the drawer is flush with the cabinet.
How It's Used
"The door was flush with the wall."
"The tiles are installed flush."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
to flush something down the toilet
To waste or get rid of something, often a valuable resource or opportunity, in a careless or irresponsible way.
"He flushed his inheritance down the toilet by gambling it all away."
From Middle English flushen, from Old French flosche (a sudden gush), related to Old Norse flȳsa (to gush).
The word 'flush' has been used since the 14th century, initially referring to a sudden rush or gush of water. Its application to facial redness and the act of cleansing with water developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'flush' of color spreading across a surface, like a red sunset.