flows
flows — noun
- flowssingular
- flowsesplural
1. the steady, continuous movement of a liquid, gas, or electric current from one p
the steady, continuous movement of a liquid, gas, or electric current from one place to another
The flow of water from the broken pipe flooded the kitchen floor.
flow of water + from
Anong watched the flow of cars across the bridge during rush hour.
flow of cars (metaphorical extension to traffic)
A sudden flow of cold air rushed through the open window.
Doctors checked the blood flow to the patient's injured leg.
The lava flow from the volcano destroyed several homes in the valley.
常見錯誤
2. large numbers of people or things arriving somewhere steadily over a period of t
large numbers of people or things arriving somewhere steadily over a period of time
The steady flow of donations helped the charity rebuild the local school.
flow of donations
João managed the flow of customers at the busy weekend market stall.
flow of customers
A growing flow of tourists filled the small coastal town last summer.
Officials were worried about the flow of illegal goods across the border.
The constant flow of emails made it hard for Rin to concentrate.
- trickle
a very small, slow flow of people or things
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1 (SMOOTH MOVEMENT): sense 2 is about quantity — many things arriving — not the physical movement of one substance.
3. an uninterrupted supply of goods, power, or information being delivered from one
an uninterrupted supply of goods, power, or information being delivered from one point to another
The factory needed a reliable flow of raw materials to meet its deadline.
flow of raw materials
Gabriel kept a steady flow of tasks coming so nobody on the team was idle.
flow of tasks
The flow of electricity was cut off for three hours after the storm.
Élise kept the flow of conversation going by asking everyone questions.
The information flow between the two offices broke down during the company merger.
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 2 (STEADY ARRIVAL): sense 3 is about the pipeline or process itself staying unbroken, not the volume of things arriving.
4. a mental state in which a person is so deeply absorbed in an activity that they
a mental state in which a person is so deeply absorbed in an activity that they perform it effortlessly and stop noticing the passage of time
Rania was in a state of flow while painting and lost all track of time.
in a state of flow
The basketball player said he was in the flow during the final quarter.
in the flow
Ife found her flow while coding and worked straight through the night.
Writers often talk about reaching a flow where the words seem to write themselves.
Pedro entered a deep flow while playing guitar and forgot about the audience.
- zone
informal; 'in the zone' is the everyday equivalent of 'in the flow'
- concentration
more general; does not imply the effortless, enjoyable quality of flow
用法筆記
Always used with a preposition: 'in a flow', 'in the flow', 'into a flow'. The phrase 'flow state' is the more formal psychological term.
常見錯誤
5. long hair on a man, worn loose so that it hangs freely around the shoulders, esp
long hair on a man, worn loose so that it hangs freely around the shoulders, especially on athletes
The football player's flow reached past his shoulders when he took off his helmet.
flow = long hair (informal)
David grew out his flow for two years and tied it back before matches.
Tunde's dark flow bounced as he sprinted down the field toward the goal.
The young surfer shook the water from his flow after catching a wave.
The goalkeeper's blond flow was tied back with a simple band.
用法筆記
Informal, originally from American sports culture. Almost always used about men. The more neutral term is 'long hair'.
常見錯誤
flows — verb
- flowspresent simple I / you / we / they
- flowses3rd person singular
- flowsing-ing form
- flowsedpast simple
1. to move along steadily in a stream, like water running downhill or blood moving
to move along steadily in a stream, like water running downhill or blood moving through the body
Clean spring water flows down the rock face all year round.
flow + down (direction)
Ife felt the cold wind flow through the gap under the front door.
flow + through
The river flows past three villages before reaching the sea.
Electricity flows through these copper wires to power the street lamps.
Anong poured the tea and watched it flow into the small white cup.
文法句型
flow + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Subject is typically a liquid, gas, or electric current. Also used metaphorically for things that move like a liquid (traffic, crowds).
常見錯誤
2. to keep coming or being sent in large numbers over a period of time, without sto
to keep coming or being sent in large numbers over a period of time, without stopping
Donations flowed in from across the country after the earthquake.
flowed in (phrasal pattern)
New ideas flowed during the team's late-night meeting at the office.
Job applications flowed steadily into the human resources department each week.
The wine flowed freely at Iris and Gabriel's wedding celebration.
Tourists flow into the old city centre every morning during summer.
- dry up
when the supply of something stops completely
文法句型
flow + in/into
用法筆記
Often used with 'in', 'into', or 'freely'. Subject is usually something that can arrive in quantity: money, information, people, ideas.
3. to fall or hang in a loose, graceful way — said especially of hair, fabric, or c
to fall or hang in a loose, graceful way — said especially of hair, fabric, or clothing
Élise's dark curls flowed over her shoulders as she leaned forward.
flowed over (hair)
The bride's long veil flowed behind her as she walked up the aisle.
Pedro's silver hair flowed down his back in a single thick braid.
The curtains flowed gently in the warm breeze from the open window.
The dancer's silk scarf flowed through the air as she spun around the stage.
文法句型
flow + down/over/behind
用法筆記
Subject is typically hair, fabric, or clothing. Always intransitive — the thing itself hangs or moves; you cannot 'flow' your hair.