flow
verb [ I ] uk/fləʊ/ us/floʊ/
(MOVE)
B1 （尤指液体、气体或电）流动
(especially of liquids, gases, or electricity) to move in one direction, especially continuously and easily
Lava from the volcano was flowing down the hillside. 火山岩浆顺着山坡往下流。
Many short rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean. 许多小河汇入太平洋。
The river flows through three counties before flowing into the sea just south of here. 这条河流在汇入此处正南边的大海之前流经了3个郡县。
With fewer cars on the roads, traffic is flowing (= moving forward) more smoothly than usual. 路上的车少了，交通比平时更通畅了。
- More examples
- Every day, 30 million gallons of untreated human waste flow from Ciudad Juarez into the Rio Grande.
- The teacher drew a diagram showing how the blood flows through the heart.
- There's a lovely stream that flows through their garden.
- The road was blocked for two hours after the accident, but traffic is now flowing smoothly again.
- The pipes creaked as water flowed through the system.
(CONTINUE)
持续抵达;持续供应（或生产）
to continue to arrive or be produced
Please keep the money flowing in! 请继续投钱进来！
Offers of help are flowing into the disaster area from all over the country. 援助源源不断地从全国各地到达灾区。
My thoughts flow more easily if I work on a computer. 如果在电脑上工作，我的想法会更流畅一些。
By eleven o'clock, the wine was starting to flow. 到11点时，开始大量提供葡萄酒。
After they'd all had a drink or two, the conversation began to flow. 他们都喝了一两杯之后，谈话开始无拘无束起来。
(HANG DOWN)
飘垂;飘拂
to hang down loosely and often attractively
Her long red hair flowed down over her shoulders. 她红色的长发飘垂在肩头。
flow
noun uk/fləʊ/ us/floʊ/
(MOVEMENT)
B2 [ C usually singular ]流动;（向某方向的）移动
the movement of something in one direction
the flow of a river 河水的流动
the flow of traffic 车流
the flow of blood 血液的流动
- More examples
- Ligatures are used in surgery to stop the flow of a bleeding artery.
- The country's asylum laws were amended to staunch the flow of economic migrants.
- They are broadening the bridge to speed up the flow of traffic.
- She tied a handkerchief around the wound to stem the flow of blood.
- Diets that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol tend to clog up our arteries, thereby reducing the flow of blood.
(CONTINUOUS NUMBER)
[ C usually singular ]大量
a regular and quite large number of something
There's been a steady flow of visitors. 参观者络绎不绝。
[ S ]不断的供应;流，流动
a situation in which something is produced or moved continuously
the flow of ideas/information 思想的流畅／信息的流动
- More examples
- The country's asylum laws were amended to staunch the flow of economic migrants.
- The current structure does not facilitate efficient work flow.
- They are worried that the flow of tourists could swell into an unmanageable torrent if there are no controls.
- He's currently experiencing problems with his cash flow.
- There is a stimulating flow of ideas between the departments.
Idioms
go against the flowidiom 逆流而动，与主流背道而驰
to do or say the opposite of what most people are doing or saying
With this new book, she is going against the flow. 她的这本新书是反社会主流的。
go with the flowidiom informalC2 随大溜，随波逐流
to do what other people are doing or to agree with other people because it is the easiest thing to do
Just relax and go with the flow! 干脆放松下来，随大溜吧！