FLUX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flux mean? 

• FLUX (noun)
  The noun FLUX has 8 senses:

1. the rate of flow of energy or particles across a given surface

2. a flow or discharge

3. a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed

4. excessive discharge of liquid from a cavity or organ (as in watery diarrhea)

5. a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) preceding the establishment of a new direction of action

6. the lines of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle

7. (physics) the number of changes in energy flow across a given surface per unit area

8. in constant change

  Familiarity information: FLUX used as a noun is common.

• FLUX (verb)
  The verb FLUX has 3 senses:

1. move or progress freely as if in a stream

2. become liquid or fluid when heated

3. mix together different elements

  Familiarity information: FLUX used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLUX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The rate of flow of energy or particles across a given surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

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

rate (a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flux"):

neutron flux (the rate of flow of neutrons; the number of neutrons passing through a unit area in unit time)

radiant flux (the rate of flow of radiant energy (electromagnetic waves))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A flow or discharge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

flux; fluxion

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

flow; flowing (the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases))

Derivation:

flux (become liquid or fluid when heated)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

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

chemical; chemical substance (material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flux"):

soldering flux (flux applied to surfaces that are to be joined by soldering; flux cleans the surfaces and results in a better bond)

Derivation:

flux (mix together different elements)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Excessive discharge of liquid from a cavity or organ (as in watery diarrhea)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

pathology (any deviation from a healthy or normal condition)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) preceding the establishment of a new direction of action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

flux; state of flux

Context example:

the flux following the death of the emperor

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

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The lines of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

flux; magnetic field; magnetic flux

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

field; field of force; force field (the space around a radiating body within which its electromagnetic oscillations can exert force on another similar body not in contact with it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "flux"):

solar magnetic field (the magnetic field of the sun)

magnetosphere (the magnetic field of a planet; the volume around the planet in which charged particles are subject more to the planet's magnetic field than to the solar magnetic field)

Sense 7

Meaning:

(physics) the number of changes in energy flow across a given surface per unit area

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

flux; flux density

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

denseness; density (the amount per unit size)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sense 8

Meaning:

In constant change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the newness and flux of the computer industry

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

change (the action of changing something)

• FLUX (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move or progress freely as if in a stream

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

flow; flux

Context example:

The crowd flowed out of the stadium

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

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

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

cockle; riffle; ripple; ruffle; undulate (stir up (water) so as to form ripples)

transpirate; transpire (pass through the tissue or substance or its pores or interstices, as of gas)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

fluxion (a flow or discharge)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become liquid or fluid when heated

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

flux; liquefy; liquify

Context example:

the frozen fat liquefied

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

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

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

condense; distil; distill (undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops)

dethaw; dissolve; melt; thaw; unfreeze; unthaw (become or cause to become soft or liquid)

fuse (become plastic or fluid or liquefied from heat)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

flux (a flow or discharge)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mix together different elements

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

blend; coalesce; combine; commingle; conflate; flux; fuse; immix; meld; merge; mix

Context example:

The colors blend well

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

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

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

accrete (grow together (of plants and organs))

syncretise; syncretize (become fused)

alloy (make an alloy of)

admix (mix or blend)

conjugate (unite chemically so that the product is easily broken down into the original compounds)

blend in; mix in (cause (something) to be mixed with (something else))

meld; melt (lose its distinct outline or shape; blend gradually)

absorb (cause to become one with)

gauge (mix in specific proportions)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

flux (a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed)

 Context examples 

A SI derived unit of luminous flux.

(Lumen, NCI Thesaurus)

Increased expression of GluR2 modifies the conductance and calcium flux of neurons, and may be responsible for increased reward responses to drug.

(FosB Drug-induction Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Receptor binding modulates the transmembrane flux of ions, thereby stimulating adenylate cyclase activity, as well as the release of prolactin.

(Fenoldopam, NCI Thesaurus)

Fatty acid metabolism in mammalian cells depends on a flux of fatty acids, between the plasma membrane and mitochondria or peroxisomes for beta-oxidation, and between other cellular organelles for lipid synthesis.

(FABP Family Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

A unit of magnetic flux density equal to 10(E-9) tesla (one nanotesla) or 10(E-5) oersted, traditionally used in geophysics for measurement of changes in the Earth's magnetic field.

(Gamma, NCI Thesaurus)

A CGS unit of magnetic flux density.

(Gauss, NCI Thesaurus)

Levobupivacaine reversibly binds voltage-gated sodium channels to modulate ionic flux and prevent the initiation and transmission of nerve impulses (stabilizing neuronal membrane), thereby resulting in analgesia and anesthesia.

(Levobupivacaine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

ICAM-1-mediated signals activate an endothelial cell calcium flux and PKC, which are required for ICAM-1 dependent leukocyte migration.

(Leukocyte Transendothelial Migration Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

This allele, which encodes G protein-activated inward rectifier potassium channel 4, plays a role in the modulation of potassium flux.

(KCNJ5 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Lidocaine stabilizes the neuronal membrane by binding to and inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, thereby inhibiting the ionic fluxes required for the initiation and conduction of impulses and effecting local anesthesia.

(Lidocaine, NCI Thesaurus)