English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
Floating debris from a shipwreck or things discarded and left floating.
"The beach was littered with flotsam after the storm."
To struggle or stagger clumsily; to experience difficulty or confusion.
"He floundered in the interview when asked difficult questions."
a powder made by grinding grains, used for making bread, cakes, etc.
"She bought a bag of flour to bake a cake."
To grow or develop in a healthy or successful way.
"Her business began to flourish after she introduced online sales."
To openly disregard or show contempt for a rule or law.
"The company was fined for flouting environmental regulations."
to move steadily and continuously in a current or stream
"The river flows gently through the valley."
the seed-bearing part of a plant, often colorful and fragrant, that blossoms
"The garden was full of colorful flowers."
a decorative container used to hold cut flowers
"She placed beautiful roses in the flower vase on the table."
The reproductive structures of plants that provide nectar for butterflies.
"Butterflies are attracted to colorful flowers."
Full of flowers or overly elaborate in style or language.
"She wrote a flowery letter filled with poetic phrases."
a contagious viral illness causing fever, aches, and respiratory symptoms; influenza
"She stayed home because she had the flu."
To change continually between one level or situation and another.
"The prices of vegetables fluctuate throughout the year."
A continual change or variation; an irregular rising and falling.
"The fluctuation in stock prices worried the investors."
A pipe or channel for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire, gas heater, or power station.
"The chimney flue needs to be cleaned regularly."
The ability to speak, write, or perform smoothly and easily.
"Her fluency in English impressed the interviewers."
Able to speak, write, or express oneself smoothly and easily.
"She is fluent in both English and Spanish."
Having the power to influence or flowing freely (rare/archaic usage).
"The fluential speaker captivated the entire audience."
in a smooth, effortless, and articulate manner; with ease and skill
"She speaks French fluently."
soft, light, and airy in texture
"She baked a fluffy cake for the party."
a substance that can flow easily, such as liquid or gas; smooth and adaptable
"The artist's fluid movements impressed the audience."
The ability of a substance to flow easily; smooth and graceful movement or style.
"The fluidity of the dancer's movements was mesmerizing."
A stroke of luck; an unexpected piece of good fortune.
"Winning the lottery was a complete fluke."
To confuse or bewilder someone completely.
"The complicated puzzle flummoxed the students."
Completely confused or bewildered.
"He looked flummoxed after hearing the strange question."
to become red in the face, usually from embarrassment, heat, or excitement; to clean something with a flow of water
"She flushed with embarrassment when she realized her mistake."
to make someone agitated or confused
"The unexpected question flustered him."
in a state of confusion or agitation
"She appeared flustered after being asked so many questions."
a musical instrument played by blowing across a hole at one end
"He played a beautiful tune on the flute."
having grooves or ridges, often for decoration
"The vase had a beautiful fluted design around the rim."
to move or flap quickly and lightly; to beat or wave with small rapid motions
"The butterfly began to flutter its wings in the sunlight."
relating to or found in a river
"The fluvial deposits indicated the presence of an ancient river system."
continuous change or movement; the rate of flow of something
"The company was in a state of constant flux during the reorganization."
to move through the air using wings or by being carried by the wind or an aircraft
"The birds fly south for the winter."
able to move through the air; related to flight or aircraft
"The flying bird disappeared into the clouds."
Vehicles that can travel both on roads and in the air.
"Flying cars could soon solve urban traffic congestion."
any animal that has the ability to fly through the air
"Birds, bats, and insects are all examples of flying creatures."
a yellow flowering plant with leaves shaped like a horse's hoof, also known as coltsfoot
"The foal-foot plant grows wild in many meadows and is often the first flower to bloom in spring."
a mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid; frothy white mass
"The waves crashed against the rocks, creating white foam on the shore."
to direct attention or effort on something specific
"She needs to focus on her studies."
A technique of monitoring and maintaining attention on specific tasks or goals.
"Proper focus tracking improves productivity."
Directing a great deal of attention or effort toward a particular activity, situation, or person.
"Staying focused during work hours enhances productivity."
food for livestock such as cattle, horses, or sheep; also something considered of little value but used to supply a demand
"The farmer stored enough fodder for the cattle to last through winter."
having an offensive, unpleasant smell
"The foetid smell from the garbage made it hard to breathe."
a thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the air near the ground that reduces visibility
"The airplane was delayed due to heavy fog."
Full of or covered with fog; unclear or hazy.
"The mountain road was dangerous on the foggy morning."
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
"She loved him despite his little foibles."
To prevent something (especially a plan) from succeeding.
"The police foiled the robbery attempt."
To impose something unwelcome or unnecessary on someone.
"He tried to foist his old books onto his friends."
to bend something, especially paper or cloth, so that one part covers another
"She folded the letter neatly before placing it in the envelope."