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command, such as warships in the navy 2 a group of buses, aircraft etc, under one control
**fleet²** *adj lit* fast; quick: *a fleet-footed runner* **—~ness** *n* [U]
**'fleet ,admiral** *n* a rank in the US navy $\rightarrow$ see TABLE 3
**,Fleet 'Air ,Arm, the** the part of the British navy that formerly looked after and flew the navy's aircraft
**fleet·ing** /'fliːtɪŋ/ *adj* passing quickly; not lasting long: *The fans caught a fleeting glimpse of their idol as he ran into the waiting car.* **—~ly** *adv*
**'Fleet Street** a street in London where most of the important newspaper offices used to be based. The name Fleet Street was formerly used to mean the British newspaper industry and its political influence, but this is now less common because most of the big newspapers have moved their offices out of Fleet Street: *Fleet Street was still buzzing with excitement at the thought of a general election.* $\rightarrow$ see also WAPPING
**Flem·ing, I·an** /'flemɪŋ, 'iːən/ (1908-64) a British writer who invented the character of James BOND and wrote many novels about him
**Fleming, Sir Al·ex·an·der** /ˌælɪɡ'zɑːndə||-'zæn-/ (1881-1955) a British scientist who discovered PENICILLIN, a substance that is used as a medicine to destroy BACTERIA (=very small living things related to plants, some of which cause disease)
**Flem·ish¹** /'flemɪʃ/ *adj* from or relating to the northern part of Belgium where Flemish is spoken: *Flemish cities*
**Flemish²** *n* [U] the Germanic language spoken in northern Belgium
**flesh¹** /fleʃ/ *n* **1** [U] the soft part of the body of a person or animal that covers the bones and lies under the skin **2** [U] the soft part of a fruit or vegetable, which can be eaten $\rightarrow$ see picture at FRUIT **3** [the] the physical human body as opposed to the mind or soul: *His life was devoted to the pleasures of the flesh. | The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.* **4 go the way of all flesh** *lit* to die **5 in the flesh** in real life; in physical form: *She's even more beautiful in the flesh than in photographs.* **6 make someone's flesh creep** to shock or frighten, especially in a way that causes unpleasant physical feelings: *The late-night horror movie made my flesh creep.* **7 press the flesh** *infml* to shake hands with a large number of people; usually done by members of the royal family or politicians: *The new Prime Minister was pressing the flesh and chatting to people in the crowd.* **8 (the spirit is willing but) the flesh is weak** I would like to do something but my body is not strong enough to do it
**flesh²** *v*
**flesh sthg. $\Leftrightarrow$ out** *phr v* [T(with)] to add more substance to: *Try to flesh out your argument (with a few relevant facts).*
**ˌflesh and 'blood** *n* [U] **1** relatives; family: *I must help them — they're my own flesh and blood.* **2** *especially lit* human nature: *These sorrows are more than flesh and blood can bear.*
**'flesh-,coloured** *BrE* || **'flesh-,tone** *AmE* — *adj* of the colour of European people's skin: *a flower with flesh-coloured petals*
**flesh·ly** /'fleʃli/ *adj* [A] *lit* physical, especially sexual: *fleshly desires*
**flesh·pot** /'fleʃpɒt||-pɑːt/ *n* [usually pl.] *usually humor or derog* a place supplying good food, drink, singing and dancing etc, especially a place where people go for sexual pleasure
**flesh wound** /'fleʃ ,wuːnd/ *n* a wound which does not damage the bones or the important organs of the body
**flesh·y** /'fleʃi/ *adj* **1** having much flesh; fat: *fleshy cheeks* **2** of or like flesh: *a fleshy texture* **—~ness** *n* [U]
**fleur-de-lis, fleur-de-lys** /ˌflɜː də 'liːs, -'liː||ˌflɜːr də 'liː/ *n* a pattern formed of three curved parts joined together that is used on COATS OF ARMS
**flew** /fluː/ *past tense of* FLY
**flex¹** /fleks/ *v* [T] to bend a joint; to make a muscle become tight by doing this: *Mike's always flexing his biceps to show off.* $\rightarrow$ opposite STRETCH; compare EXTEND
**flex²** *n* [C;U] *especially BrE* (a length of) electrical wire enclosed in a protective covering, used for connecting an electrical apparatus to a supply
**flex·i·ble** /'fleksəbəl/ *adj* **1** that can bend or be bent easily **2** that can change or be changed to be suitable for new needs, changed conditions etc: *We can visit you on Saturday or Sunday; our plans are fairly flexible.* $\rightarrow$ opposite INFLEXIBLE **—~bly** *adv* **—,bility** /ˌfleksə'bɪlɪti/ *n* [U]
**ˌflexible 'friend** *n BrE infml* a CREDIT CARD (from an advertisement for Access CREDIT CARDS in which the cards were given human characteristics and described as *your flexible friend*)
**flex·i·time** /'fleksitaɪm/ *BrE* || also **flex·time** /'flekstaɪm/ *AmE* — *n* [U] a system by which people work a certain number of hours each week or month, but can choose from a usually limited range of daily starting and finishing times and are sometimes allowed to take time off work once they have completed a certain number of hours: *Do you work flexitime?*
**flib·ber·ti·gib·bet** /'flɪbətiˌdʒɪbɪt||-bər-/ *n infml* a silly unsteady person, usually a woman, who talks too much etc
**flick¹** /flɪk/ *n* a short light sudden blow, or movement with a whip, finger etc: *He hit the ball with just a flick of the wrist.* $\rightarrow$ see also FLICKS, SKIN FLICK
**flick²** *v* **1** [I+adv/prep;T] to (cause to) move with a light quick sudden movement: *The snake's tongue flicked from side to side. | He flicked the switch. | The cow flicked the flies away with its tail.* **2** [T] to strike with a light quick sudden blow from a whip, finger etc: *The driver flicked the horse with his whip to make it go faster.*
**flick·er¹** /'flɪkəʳ/ *v* **1** [I] to burn unsteadily; shine with an unsteady light: *a flickering candle | (fig.) The hope still flickered within her that her husband might be alive.* **2** [I;T] to (cause to) move backwards and forwards unsteadily: *Shadows flickered on the wall. | flickering eyelids*
**flicker²** *n* [S] **1** a flickering movement or light: *We watched the flicker of the firelight on the wall.* **2** a feeling that lasts a very short time: *a flicker of interest/excitement*
**'flick knife** *BrE* || **switchblade** *AmE* — *n* a knife with a blade inside the handle that springs into position when a button is pressed. Flick knives are connected in people's minds with violent criminals, especially young men who enjoy fighting.
**flicks** /flɪks/ *n* [the P] *especially BrE infml* the cinema
**fli·er, flyer** /'flaɪəʳ/ *n* **1** someone or something that flies, especially a pilot **2** *infml for* FLYING START **3** a LEAFLET which is produced for advertising purposes and is given to people in the street or handed out door-to-door (DOOR)
**flies** /flaɪz/ *n* **1** [P] *BrE* the front opening of a pair of trousers; FLY **2** [the P] the large space above a stage from which people control and move the scenes used in a play
**flight¹** /flaɪt/ *n* **1** [C;U] (an act of) flying: *She photographed the bird in flight. | It was the bird's first flight from the nest.* **2** [C] (the distance covered in) a journey through air or space: *several flights a day from London to New York | I've booked you on a direct flight to Paris. | The airline provides good in-flight entertainment. | Flight BA 447 to Geneva (=the plane making this journey) is now boarding. | a charter flight | an internal flight (=within one country)* $\rightarrow$ see also CHARTER FLIGHT **3** [C] a set of stairs between one floor and the next: *She fell down a flight of stairs. | He lives two flights up.* **4** [C] a group of birds or aircraft flying together: *a flight of pigeons* **5** [C(of)] an unusually fine performance or effort of imagination: *His entertaining speech contained some amusing flights of fancy.* **6** [U] *especially lit* fast movement or passage: *the flight of time* **7 in the first flight** *especially BrE* excellent; in a leading place
**flight²** *n* [C;U] (an example of) the act of running away or escaping: *Our army will quickly put the enemy to flight (=make them run away) | When the police arrived the thieves took (to) flight (=ran away) leaving the jewels behind.* | (fig) *The crisis in the country led to a flight of capital abroad. (=movement of money out of the country)*
**'flight at,tendant** *n* a person who looks after the comfort of the passengers in an aircraft during the flight
**'flight crew** *n* the people such as the pilot and FLIGHT ATTENDANTS who work on a plane during a flight
**'flight data re,corder** *n* a FLIGHT RECORDER
**'flight deck** *n* **1** the surface of a ship (AIRCRAFT CARRIER) used for the take-off or landing of military aircraft **2** the room in an aircraft which contains the controls and where the pilot sits
**,Flight into 'Egypt, the** a story in the BIBLE in which