flux

/fləks/

/fləks/

Other forms: fluxes; fluxing; fluxed

The noun flux describes something that constantly changes. If your likes, dislikes, attitudes, dreams, and even friends are changing all the time, you may be in flux.

Flux can also mean being unsure about a decision. Suppose you just had a great job interview and suddenly your friend invites you to go to Australia with her. You don't know what to do because you don't want to miss a call about the job — or Sydney! You're in flux until you hear from the potential employer. Another kind of flux is liquid moving or flowing, like the flux of water under a sheet of melting ice.

Definitions of flux

1. noun

   constant change
   “his opinions are in flux”

   “the newness and flux of the computer industry”

   type of:

   change

   the action of changing something
2. noun

   a state of uncertainty about what should be done (usually following some important event) preceding the establishment of a new direction of action
   “the flux following the death of the emperor”

   synonyms: state of flux

   type of:

   state

   the way something is with respect to its main attributes
3. noun

   a flow or discharge
   synonyms: fluxion

   type of:

   flow, flowing

   the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
4. noun

   the lines of force surrounding a permanent magnet or a moving charged particle
   synonyms: magnetic field, magnetic flux

   types:

   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

   solar magnetic field

   the magnetic field of the sun

   type 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
5. noun

   the rate of flow of energy or particles across a given surface
   types:

   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)

   luminous flux

   the rate of flow of light energy

   type of:

   rate

   a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
6. noun

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

   type of:

   denseness, density

   the amount per unit size
7. noun

   excessive discharge of liquid from a cavity or organ (as in watery diarrhea)
   type of:

   pathology

   any deviation from a healthy or normal condition
8. verb

   move or progress freely as if in a stream
   synonyms: flow

   types:

   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

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
9. verb

   become liquid or fluid when heated
   synonyms: liquefy, liquify

   types:

   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

   deliquesce

   melt, liquefy, or dissolve, by absorbing moisture from the air

   de-ice, defrost, deice

   make or become free of frost or ice

   type of:

   change integrity

   change in physical make-up
10. noun

    a substance added to molten metals to bond with impurities that can then be readily removed
    types:

    soldering flux

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

    type of:

    chemical, chemical substance

    material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
11. verb

    mix together different elements
    synonyms: blend, coalesce, combine, commingle, conflate, fuse, immix, meld, merge, mix

    types:

    gauge

    mix in specific proportions

    absorb

    cause to become one with

    meld, melt

    lose its distinct outline or shape; blend gradually

    blend in, mix in

    cause (something) to be mixed with (something else)

    accrete

    grow, accumulate, or fuse together

    conjugate

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

    admix

    mix or blend

    alloy

    make an alloy of

    syncretise, syncretize

    become fused

    cut in

    mix in with cutting motions

    type of:

    change integrity

    change in physical make-up