FLUSHES | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

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 flash and blush

(of a person's skin, face, etc.) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion

become red and hot

• Rachel flushed angrily

cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large quantities of water to pass through it

cleanse by passing water through

• she flushed the loo
• the nurse flushed out the catheter

drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover

drive game bird from cover

• the grouse were flushed from the woods

(of a plant) send out fresh shoots

(of plant) produce fresh shoots

• the plant had started to flush by late March

a reddening of the face, skin, etc., typically caused by illness or strong emotion

reddening of face

• a flush of embarrassment rose to her cheeks

a sudden rush of intense emotion

sudden rush of intense emotion

• I was carried away in a flush of enthusiasm

an act of cleansing something, especially a toilet, with a sudden flow of water

act of flushing something

• an old-fashioned toilet uses six or seven gallons a flush

the action of driving an animal or game bird from its cover

action of driving game bird from cover

• labradors retrieve the birds after the flush