Library / English Dictionary

FLEX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of flexing

Example:

he gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

the strong man could turn an iron bar

Synonyms:

bend; deform; flex; turn; twist

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bend a joint

Example:

bend your knees

Synonyms:

bend; flex

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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 3

Meaning:

Form a curve

Example:

The stick does not bend

Synonyms:

bend; flex

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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:

Contract

Example:

flex a muscle

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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 5

Meaning:

Exhibit the strength of

Example:

The victorious army flexes its invincibility

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

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

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

A muscle in the forearm running from the humeral and ulnar heads to the ulnar side of the wrist that flexes and abducts the hand toward the ulna.

(Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, NCI Thesaurus)

A muscle in the forearm running from the head of the humerus to the radial side of the wrist that flexes and radially abducts the hand.

(Flexor Carpi Radialis, NCI Thesaurus)

Its action involves the rotation of the arm and the flexing of the elbow.

(Biceps, NCI Thesaurus)

A muscle that originates from the lower two-thirds of the anterior surface of the humerus that flexes the elbow.

(Brachialis, NCI Thesaurus)

Instead, these moons have eccentric (slightly oval-shaped) orbits, which raise daily tides that flex the interior and stress the surface.

(Cracks in Pluto's moon could indicate it once had an underground ocean, NASA)

Uranus is the planet that gives no notice, keeping us on our toes, and flexing our resourcefulness to come up with ways to deal with what we are confronted with at the time.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Yet, researchers say that many technologies — from stretchable electronics to tiny robots so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye — require an understanding of the mechanics of graphene, particularly how it flexes and bends, to unlock their potential.

(Graphene: The more you bend it, the softer it gets, National Science Foundation)

A muscle in the forearm beginning at the head of the ulna and ending with four tendons projecting to the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers which flexes the midcarpal, metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.

(Flexor Digitorum Profundus, NCI Thesaurus)

An assessment for developmental dysplasia of the hip or a leg-length discrepancy, the patient is placed in a supine position and the ankles are brought to the buttocks with the hips and knees flexed.

(Galeazzi Test, NCI Thesaurus)

Useful in assessing for developmental dysplasia of the hip or a leg-length discrepancy, this is the result obtained when the patient is placed in a supine position and the ankles are brought to the buttocks with the hips and knees flexed.

(Galeazzi Test Result, NCI Thesaurus)