flow

flow [flō]

vi.

[ME flouen < OE flowan, akin to ON floa, to flood, OHG flouwen, to wash < IE base * pleu-, to run, flow, fly > FLOOD, FLY¹, FLEE, FLEET², FLOAT, L pluere, to rain]

1. to move as a liquid does; move in a stream, like water

2. to move in a way suggestive of a liquid; stream [crowds flowed past]

3.

a) to move gently, smoothly, and easily; glide

b) to have smooth and pleasing continuity [the lines in the painting flowed]

4. to stream forth; pour out

5. to be derived; spring; proceed

6. to fall in waves; hang loose [her long hair flowed down her back]

7. to come in; rise, as the tide

8. to be overflowing or plentiful

9. Geol. to change in shape under pressure without breaking or splitting, as ice in a glacier or rocks deep in the earth

vt.

1. to overflow; flood

2. Archaic to cause to flow

n.

1. the act or manner of flowing

2. the rate of flowing

3. anything that flows; stream or current

4. a continuous production [a flow of ideas]

5. the rising of the tide

SYN.- RISE

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go with the flow

Informal to conform to or accept, rather than resist, a trend, condition, development, etc.

flowingly

adv.