Flush

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈflʌʃ/
• Rhymes: -ʌʃ

Middle English flusshen

Full definition of flush

Noun

1. A group of birds that have suddenly started up from undergrowth, trees etc.
• 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.2:As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight
  Flowne at a flush of Ducks foreby the brooke ….

Verb

1. (transitive) To cause to take flight from concealment.The hunters flushed the tiger from the canebrake.
2. (intransitive) To take suddenly to flight, especially from cover.A covey of quail flushed from the undergrowth.
• W. Browneflushing from one spray unto another

Same as #Etymology 3 according to the American Heritage Dictionary

Adjective

1. smooth, even, aligned; not sticking out.Sand down the excess until it is flush with the surface.
2. wealthy or well off.He just got a bonus so he's flush today.
3. (typography) Short for flush left and right; a body of text aligned with both its left and right margins.
4. Full of vigour; fresh; glowing; bright.
• ShakespeareWith all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.
5. Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.
• ArbuthnotLord Strut was not very flush in ready.

Synonyms

• (typography) double-clean, flush left and right, forced, forced justified, force justified, justified

Derived terms

• flush left, flush right, flush left and right

Probably from #Etymology 1 according to American Heritage Dictionary

Noun

1. A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.
• Rayin manner of a wave or flush
2. Particularly, such a cleansing of a toilet.
3. A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
• Tennysonthe flush of angered shame
4. Any tinge of red colour like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood.the flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset
5. A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement, animation, etc.a flush of joy

Verb

1. (transitive) To cleanse by flooding with generous quantities of a fluid.Flush the injury with plenty of water.
2. (transitive) Particularly, to cleanse a toilet by introducing a large amount of water.
3. (intransitive) To become suffused with reddish color due to embarrassment, excitement, overheating, or other systemic disturbance, to blush.The damsel flushed at the scoundrel's suggestion.
4. (transitive) To cause to blush.
• John GayNor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek.
• KeatsSudden a thought came like a full-blown rose,
  Flushing his brow.
• 1925, Fruit of the Flower, by Countee Cullen"Who plants a seed begets a bud, -- Extract of that same root; -- Why marvel at the hectic blood -- That flushes this wild fruit?"
5. To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water.to flush the meadows
6. (transitive) To excite, inflame.
• Southsuch things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition
7. (intransitive, of a toilet) To be cleansed by being flooded with generous quantities of water.There must be somebody home: I just heard the toilet flushing.
8. (transitive, computing) To clear (a buffer) of its contents.
9. To flow and spread suddenly; to rush.Blood flushes into the face.
• Boylethe flushing noise of many waters
10. To show red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
• MiltonIn her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.
11. (masonry) To fill in (joints); to point the level; to make them flush.

Usage notes

In sense “turn red with embarrassment”, blush is more common. More finely, in indicating the actual change, blush is more common – “He blushed with embarrassment” – but in indicating state, flushed is also common – “He was flushed with excitement”.

Synonyms

• (turn red with embarrassment) blush

Probably from Middle French flus ("flow"), cognate with flux

Noun

1. (poker) A hand consisting of all cards with the same suit.

Derived terms