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flower
a flop into the water. 2 [C] infml a failure: The party was a complete flop. → see also BELLY FLOP
flop-house /'flɒphas||'flɑːp-/ n pl. -houses /ˌhaʊzɪz/ AmE slang a cheap hotel
flop-py¹ /'flɒpi||'flɑːpi/ adj soft and falling loosely: a floppy hat —pily adv —piness n [U]
floppy² n a floppy disk
,floppy 'disk n a piece of bendable plastic with a thin coat of a MAGNETIC substance on which information for a computer can be stored → compare HARD DISK
flo-ra /'flɔːrə/ n [C;U] all the plants of a particular place, country, or period: the flora of chalk areas | stone-age flora → compare FAUNA
Flora trademark a British type of MARGARINE made with SUNFLOWER oil, which is considered to be healthy because it is POLYUNSATURATED
flo-ral /'flɔːrəl/ adj of flowers: He chose a nice material with a floral pattern for the curtains.
Flor-ence /'flɒrəns||'flɔː-/ a city in western central Italy, which was very rich and powerful in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is famous for its art and fine buildings. —Florentine n, adj
flor-id /'flɒrɪd||'flɔːr-, 'flɑː-/ adj 1 often derog too much decoration; (too) showy: He played the piece in a very florid style, with lots of extra ornamental flourishes. 2 having a red face: a florid complexion —ly adv
Flor-i-da /'flɒrɪdə||'flɔː-/ written abbrev. FL a state in the southeastern US. Florida is known for having warm weather all year round, and many older people go there to live when they have stopped working. During SPRING BREAK many US college students go to the seaside towns in Florida for a short holiday. DISNEY WORLD and the EPCOT CENTER are in Florida, and the area is also a popular place for British people to go for a holiday.
,Florida 'Keys, the a group of small islands off the coast of southern Florida which attract many tourists
,Florida 'Marlins, the a Major League Baseball team based in Miami, Florida. Their home STADIUM is the Pro Player Stadium. They have won two League PENNANTS and two World Series CHAMPIONSHIPS.
flor-in /'flɒrɪn||'flɔːr-, 'flɑː-/ n (in Britain before 1971) a silver-coloured coin worth two SHILLINGS ten of which made £1 (a pound)
flor-ist /'flɒrɪst||'flɔːr-/ n a person who owns or works in a shop (florist's) which sells flowers: He had a dozen red roses sent to his wife from the florist's.
Flor-sheim /'flɔːaɪm||'flɔːr-/ trademark a type of good-quality shoes, which are usually called Florsheims, made by a US company
floss¹ /flɒs||flɑːs, flɔːs/ n [U] fine silk, spun (SPIN) but not twisted, used for sewing etc → see also CANDYFLOSS, DENTAL FLOSS
floss² v [T] to clean (one's teeth) with DENTAL FLOSS
flo-ta-tion, floa- /fləʊ'teɪʃən/ n [C;U] an act or the action of getting money or other support in order to start up a business company: a share flotation
flo'tation tank n a large container full of warm water that you float in so that you can relax. The container has a cover on it to make it dark and quiet inside.
flo-ti-lla /flə'tɪlə||flou-/ n a group of small ships, especially warships
flot-sam /'flɒtsəm||'flɑː-/ n [U] broken pieces of wood, plastic, and other waste materials from a shipwreck floating about together in the sea, or washed up onto the shore → compare JETSAM
,flotsam and 'jetsam n 1 [U] a collection of broken unwanted things lying about in an untidy way 2 [P] people without homes or work, who move helplessly through life: the flotsam and jetsam of society
flounce¹ /flaʊns/ v [I+adv/prep] to move violently, especially to express anger or attract attention: She slapped him on the face and flounced off in a huff.
flounce² n a band of cloth gathered and sewn onto clothing as a decoration, especially in fashions of former times —flounced adj: a flounced skirt
floun-der¹ /'flaʊndər/ v [I] 1 to move about helplessly or with great difficulty, especially in water, mud, snow etc: The little dog was floundering around in the snow, so I picked it up. | The fish floundered on the river bank, struggling to breathe. 2 to struggle or lose control when speaking or doing something: When one of his listeners laughed rudely, he lost the thread of his argument and started floundering.
flounder² n pl. flounder or flounders a small flat fish, used as food
flour¹ /'flaʊər/ n [U] powder made by crushing grain, especially wheat, and used for making bread, pastry, cakes etc → see also PLAIN FLOUR, SELF-RAISING FLOUR
flour² v [T] to cover with flour: Flour the pastry board so that the dough doesn't stick to it.
flour-ish¹ /'flʌrɪʃ||'flɜːrɪʃ/ v 1 [I] to be alive and well; to grow healthily: Very few plants will flourish without sunlight. | 'How are the children?' 'They're flourishing!' 2 [I] to be active and successful: The company has really flourished since we moved our factory to Scotland. | Jazz flourished in America in the early part of the century. | a flourishing black market 3 [T] to wave in the hand and so draw attention to (something): 'I've passed my exam!' shouted the boy, flourishing a letter in his mother's face. —ingly adv
flourish² n 1 a showy movement or manner that draws people's attention to one: He opened the door with a flourish. 2 a decorative curve in writing 3 a loud showy part of a piece of music, especially one to mark the entrance of an important person
flour-mill /'flaʊəˌmɪl||-ər-/ n a place where flour is made from grain; MILL
flour-y /'flaʊəri/ adj 1 covered with flour: She was making pastry and her hands were floury. 2 soft and rather powdery: floury potatoes
flout /flaʊt/ v [T] to treat without respect; go against: No one can flout the rules and get away with it.
flow¹ /flaʊ/ v [I] 1 to move smoothly (as if) in a stream: The river flowed along rapidly. | Blood was flowing from his wound. | The cars flowed in a steady stream along the main road. | (fig.) As they drank wine, the conversation began to flow freely. 2 (of the TIDE) to rise; come in → see also FLOWING
flow² n 1 [S[of]] a smooth steady movement or supply: He could not staunch the flow of blood. | The flow of oil had to be cut off because of the threat of fire. | Her questions interrupted his flow of thought. | The flow of traffic is always slow at rush hours. | His method of treating the disease goes against the flow of (=is in opposition to) current medical opinion. → see also CASH FLOW 2 [the (of)] the rise (of the TIDE) → compare EBB¹
flow-chart /'fləʊʃɑːt||-aːrt/ also 'flow ,diagram || flow sheet AmE — n a drawing in which particular shapes and connecting lines are used for showing how each particular action in a system is connected with or depends on the next or another: The factory manager used a flowchart to explain the production process. —flowchart v [T]
flow-er¹ /'flaʊər/ n 1 [C] the part of a plant, often beautiful and coloured, that produces seeds or fruit: There was a vase of flowers on the table. | The roses are in flower (=the flowers are open) now. | He used to send her huge bouquets of flowers. 2 [C] a plant that is grown for the beauty of this part: He grows flowers in the front garden, and vegetables in the back. 3 [the+of] lit the best part; the most perfect (of a group): The flower of the nation's youth was lost in the war. 4 say it with flowers a phrase used by sellers of flowers to encourage people to give flowers to others to show their feelings —less adj: Ferns are flowerless plants.
CULTURAL NOTE Flowers are often given to someone as a sign of love, to say thank you, or to say sorry. They are also often given to women as a present or at celebrations such as birthdays and GRADUATIONS. There are usually flowers at a wedding, and the BRIDE carries flowers. Flowers are often given to people who are ill, and they are also put on graves. Some flowers have special meanings. For example, red roses represent romantic love, and white lilies (LILY) are often used when someone has died.