flex
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flex
(flĕks)v. flexed, flex·ing, flex·es
v.tr.
1. To bend (something pliant or elastic).
2.
a. To bend (a joint).
b. To bend (a joint) repeatedly.
3.
a. To contract (a muscle, for example).
b. To move by muscular control: "Sandy flexes his brow characteristically" (Scott Turow).
4. To exhibit or show off the strength of: "They had spent six years since the lightning Six Day War flexing their invincibility" (Howard Kaplan).
v.intr.
To bend: "His hands flexed nervously as he spoke" (Mary McCarthy).
n.
Idiom: 1. Chiefly British Flexible insulated electric cord.
2. The act or an instance of flexing; a bending.
3. Flexibility: a schedule with a lot of flex.
flex (one's) muscles Informal
To exhibit or show off one's strength.
[Latin flectere, flex-, to bend.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
flex
(flɛks)n
1. (Electrical Engineering) Brit a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains. US and Canadian name: cord
2. informal flexibility or pliability
vb
3. to bend or be bent: he flexed his arm; his arm flexed.
4. (Physiology) to contract (a muscle) or (of a muscle) to contract
5. (Industrial Relations & HR Terms) (intr) to work according to flexitime
6. to test or display (one's authority or strength)
[C16: from Latin flexus bent, winding, from flectere to bend, bow]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
flex1
(flɛks)v.t.
1. to bend, as a part of the body.
2. to tighten (a muscle) by contraction.
v.i. 3. to bend.
n. 4. the act of flexing.
[1515–25; (adj.) < Latin flexus, past participle of flectere to bend]
flex2
(flɛks)adj.
1. flexible.
n. 2. Brit. a flexible electric cord.
[1900–05; by shortening]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
flex
Past participle: flexed
Gerund: flexing
| Imperative |
|---|
| flex |
| flex |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  flex - the act of flexing; "he gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies" |
| Verb | 1. | flex - contract; "flex a muscle" |
| 2. | flex - exhibit the strength of; "The victorious army flexes its invincibility" | |
| 3. |  flex - form a curve; "The stick does not bend"incurvate - bend inwards; "The body incurvates a little at the back" lean, tilt, angle, slant, tip - to incline or bend from a vertical position; "She leaned over the banister" crouch, stoop, bend, bow - bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse" double over, double up, double - bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain; "He doubled and vomited violently" | |
| 4. |  flex - bend a joint; "flex your wrists"; "bend your knees"move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" | |
| 5. |  flex - cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form; "bend the rod"; "twist the dough into a braid"; "the strong man could turn an iron bar"incurvate - cause to curve inward; "gravity incurvates the rays" gnarl - twist into a state of deformity; "The wind has gnarled this old tree" crank - bend into the shape of a crank |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
flex
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
سِلْك كَهْرُبائي مَعْزولسِلْكٌ كَهْرَبَائِيّ مَعْزُوليَثْني، يَلْوي
šňůranapnoutohýbat
ledningrørebevæge
joustavuusjoustosähköjohtotaivuttaavenytellä
vodič
vasalózsinór
beygjaeinangruî raftaug
電気コード
전선
laisvas darbo grafikaslankstumaslankstus laidaslankstytipa
izlocītizvingrinātliektsaliektvads
ohýbať
priključna vrvicažica
sladd
สายไฟ
dây mềm
flex
[fleks]B. VT [+ arms, knees] → flexionar, doblar
to flex one's muscles (in exercises) → hacer ejercicios de calentamiento de músculos; (to impress) → sacar los músculos
the government is flexing its muscles in Europe → el gobierno está haciendo alarde de su poder en Europa
to flex one's muscles (in exercises) → hacer ejercicios de calentamiento de músculos; (to impress) → sacar los músculos
the government is flexing its muscles in Europe → el gobierno está haciendo alarde de su poder en Europa
C. VI → doblarse, flexionarse
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
flex
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
flex
(fleks) verb to bend, especially in order to test. to flex one's muscles.
noun (a piece of) thin insulated wire for carrying electricity. That lamp has a long flex.
ˈflexible adjective1. that can be bent easily. flexible metal.
2. able or willing to change according to circumstances etc. My holiday plans are very flexible.
ˌflexiˈbility nounˈflexitime noun
a system where employees may choose their own working hours.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
flex
→ سِلْكٌ كَهْرَبَائِيّ مَعْزُول šňůra ledning Kabel εύκαμπτο καλώδιο πρίζας cable, cable eléctrico sähköjohto fil électrique vodič cordoncino 電気コード 전선 snoer ledning giętki przewód izolowany cabo eléctrico flexível, cabo elétrico flexível гибкий провод sladd สายไฟ kablo dây mềm 电线Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
flex
v. flexionar, doblar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
flex
vt flexionar (form), doblarEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.