flush1
v.
- (of a person's skin or face) become red and hot, typically through illness or emotion.
▸glow or cause to glow with warm colour or light.
▸
(be flushed with)
be excited or elated by.
- cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by passing large quantities of water through it.
▸remove or dispose of in such a way.
- drive (a bird or animal, especially a game bird) from cover.
- (of a plant) send out fresh shoots.
n.
- a reddening of the face or skin.
▸an area of warm colour or light.
- a sudden rush of intense emotion.
▸a period of freshness and vigour:
the first flush of youth.
- an act of flushing.
- a fresh growth of leaves, flowers, or fruit.
Derivative
- flushable adj.
- flusher n.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘move rapidly, spring or fly up’): symbolic; perh. influenced by flash1 and blush.
flush2
adj.
- completely level or even with another surface.
- informal having plenty of money.
v.
fill in (a joint) level with a surface.
Derivative
Etymology
C16 (in the sense ‘perfect, lacking nothing’): prob. rel. to flush1.
flush3
n.
(in poker or brag) a hand of cards all of the same suit.
Etymology
C16: from Fr. flux (formerly flus), from L. fluxus (see flux).
flush4
n.
Ecology a piece of wet ground over which water flows without being confined to a definite channel.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘marshy place’): var. of flash2.