1 [no object] (of a person’s skin or face) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion:Mr. Cunningham flushed angrily
[with object] cause (a person’s skin or face) to become red and hot:the chill air flushed the parson’s cheeks
glow or cause to glow with warm color or light: [no object]:the ash in the center of the fire flushed up [with object]:the sky was flushed with the gold of dawn
2 [with object] cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it:flush the toiletthe nurse flushed out the catheter
[no object] (of a toilet) be cleansed by flushing:Cally heard the toilet flush
remove or dispose of (an object or substance) by flushing:I flushed the pills down the toiletthe kidneys require more water to flush out waste products
cause (a liquid) to flow through something:0.3 ml of saline is gently flushed through the tube
3 [with object] drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover:the grouse were flushed from the woods
cause to be revealed; force into the open:they’re trying to flush Tilton out of hiding
4 [no object] (of a plant) send out fresh shoots:the plant had started to flush by late March
noun
1a reddening of the face or skin that is typically caused by illness or strong emotion:a flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks
an area of warm color or light:the bird has a pinkish flush on the breast
2 [in singular] a sudden rush of intense emotion:I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm
a sudden abundance or spate of something:the frogs feast on the great flush of insects
a period when something is new or particularly fresh and vigorous:he is no longer in the first flush of youth
a fresh growth of leaves, flowers, or fruit.
3an act of cleansing something, especially a toilet, with a sudden flow of water:an old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons per flushleave the hose running to give the system a good flush out
the device used for producing a flow of water in a toilet:he pressed the flush absentmindedly
[as modifier] denoting a type of toilet that has a flush device:a flush toilet
a sudden flow:the melting snow provides a flush of water
4the action of driving a game bird from its cover:the dogs retrieve the birds after the flush
Derivatives
flushable
adjective
flusher
noun
Origin:
Middle English (in the sense 'move rapidly, spring up', especially of a bird 'fly up suddenly'): symbolic, fl- frequently beginning words connected with sudden movement; perhaps influenced by flash1 and blush
