FLEX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flex mean? 

• FLEX (noun)
  The noun FLEX has 1 sense:

1. the act of flexing

  Familiarity information: FLEX used as a noun is very rare.

• FLEX (verb)
  The verb FLEX has 5 senses:

1. contract

2. exhibit the strength of

3. form a curve

4. bend a joint

5. cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

  Familiarity information: FLEX used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLEX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of flexing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies

Hypernyms ("flex" is a kind of...):

flexion; flexure (act of bending a joint; especially a joint between the bones of a limb so that the angle between them is decreased)

Derivation:

flex (contract)

• FLEX (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they flex    ... he / she / it flexes   
Past simple: flexed   
Past participle: flexed   
-ing form: flexing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Contract

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

flex a muscle

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

flex (the act of flexing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exhibit the strength of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The victorious army flexes its invincibility

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

flash; flaunt; ostentate; show off; swank (display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form a curve

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bend; flex

Context example:

The stick does not bend

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "flex"):

crook; curve (bend or cause to bend)

arc; arch; curve (form an arch or curve)

incurvate (bend inwards)

replicate; retroflex (bend or turn backward)

angle; lean; slant; tilt; tip (to incline or bend from a vertical position)

bend; bow; crouch; stoop (bend one's back forward from the waist on down)

double; double over; double up (bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain)

cower; crawl; creep; cringe; fawn; grovel (show submission or fear)

curl; curl up; draw in (shape one's body into a curl)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The glass tubes flex

Derivation:

flexure (act of bending a joint; especially a joint between the bones of a limb so that the angle between them is decreased)

flexure (an angular or rounded shape made by folding)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Bend a joint

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bend; flex

Context example:

bend your knees

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

flexure (act of bending a joint; especially a joint between the bones of a limb so that the angle between them is decreased)

flexure (the state of being flexed (as of a joint))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bend; deform; flex; turn; twist

Context example:

the strong man could turn an iron bar

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "flex"):

dent; indent (make a depression into)

incurvate (cause to curve inward)

gnarl (twist into a state of deformity)

crank (bend into the shape of a crank)

convolute; convolve (curl, wind, or twist together)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

flexible (able to flex; able to bend easily)

 Context examples 

A muscle arising from the coracoid process of the scapula, inserted in the medial border of the humerus, and acts to adduct and flex the arm.

(Coracobrachialis, NCI Thesaurus)

The simplest model of tidal flexing provides a good match for the brightness variations Cassini observes, but it does not predict the time when the plume begins to brighten.

(101 Geysers on Icy Saturn Moon, NASA)

This type of flexing had been hypothesised before and simulated by computer models, but this is the first time the phenomenon has been measured in the field.

(Surface lakes cause Antarctic ice shelves to ‘flex’, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The most superficial muscle extending vertically downward along the inner thigh which adducts the thigh, rotates the leg medially and flexes the knee.

(Gracilis, NCI Thesaurus)

Their simulations show that as Enceladus orbits Saturn, rocks in the porous core flex and rub together, generating heat.

(Powering Saturn's Active Ocean Moon, NASA)

A triangular muscle within the iliac fossa that flexes the thigh and rotates the leg medially.

(Iliacus, NCI Thesaurus)

A position of the fetus during the labor and delivery process where the fetal chin is in close relation to its chest; other joints are also in a flexed position.

(Flexed Fetal Attitude, NCI Thesaurus)

Syndrome dominated by involuntary, sustained or spasmodic, patterned, and repetitive muscle contractions; frequently causing twisting, flexing or extending, and squeezing movements or abnormal postures.

(Dystonia, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)

A muscle in the lower leg and foot beginning at the fibula and ending with a tendon attaching to the distal surface of the great toe phalanx in order to flex the toe.

(Flexor Hallucis Longus, NCI Thesaurus)

A position of the fetus during the labor and delivery process where the fetal chin is mildly flexed but with a forward facing head.

(Neutral Fetal Attitude, NCI Thesaurus)