fla|min|go /fləm I ŋgoʊ/ (flamingos or flamingoes ) N‑COUNT A flamingo is a bird with pink feathers, long thin legs, a long neck, and a curved beak. Flamingos live near water in warm countries.
flam|mable /flæ məb ə l/ ADJ Flammable chemicals, gases, cloth, or other things catch fire and burn easily. □ …flammable liquids such as petrol or paraffin.
flan /flæ n/ (flans ) N‑VAR A flan is a food that has a base and sides of pastry or sponge cake. The base is filled with fruit or savoury food.
flange /flæ ndʒ/ (flanges ) N‑COUNT A flange is a projecting edge on an object. Its purpose is to strengthen the object or to connect it to another object.
flank /flæ ŋk/ (flanks , flanking , flanked )
1 N‑COUNT An animal's flank is its side, between the ribs and the hip. □ He put his hand on the dog's flank.
2 N‑COUNT A flank of an army or navy force is one side of it when it is organized for battle. □ The assault element, led by Captain Ramirez, opened up from their right flank.
3 N‑COUNT The side of anything large can be referred to as its flank . □ [+ of ] They continued along the flank of the mountain.
4 VERB If something is flanked by things, it has them on both sides of it, or sometimes on one side of it. □ [be V -ed + by ] The altar was flanked by two Christmas trees. □ [V n] Bookcases flank the bed.
flan|nel /flæ n ə l/ (flannels )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Flannel is a soft cloth, usually made of cotton or wool, that is used for making clothes. □ He wore a faded red flannel shirt.
2 N‑COUNT A flannel is a small cloth that you use for washing yourself. [BRIT ] in AM, use washcloth
flap /flæ p/ (flaps , flapping , flapped )
1 VERB If something such as a piece of cloth or paper flaps or if you flap it, it moves quickly up and down or from side to side. □ [V ] Grey sheets flapped on the clothes line. □ [V n] They would flap bath towels from their balconies as they chatted.
2 VERB If a bird or insect flaps its wings or if its wings flap , the wings move quickly up and down. □ [V n] The bird flapped its wings furiously. □ [V ] A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower.
3 VERB If you flap your arms, you move them quickly up and down as if they were the wings of a bird. □ [V n] …a kid running and flapping her arms.
4 N‑COUNT A flap of cloth or skin, for example, is a flat piece of it that can move freely up and down or from side to side because it is held or attached by only one edge. □ He drew back the tent flap and strode out into the blizzard. □ …a loose flap of skin.
5 N‑COUNT A flap on the wing of an aircraft is an area along the edge of the wing that can be raised or lowered to control the movement of the aircraft. □ …the sudden slowing as the flaps were lowered.
flap|jack /flæ pdʒæk/ (flapjacks )
1 N‑VAR Flapjacks are thick biscuits made from oats, butter, and syrup. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT Flapjacks are thin, flat, circular pieces of cooked batter made of milk, flour, and eggs. Flapjacks are usually rolled up or folded and eaten hot with a sweet or savoury filling. [AM ]
flare /fleə r / (flares , flaring , flared )
1 N‑COUNT A flare is a small device that produces a bright flame. Flares are used as signals, for example on ships. □ …a ship which had fired a distress flare.
2 VERB If a fire flares , the flames suddenly become larger. □ [V ] Camp fires flared like beacons in the dark. ● PHRASAL VERB Flare up means the same as flare . □ [V P ] Don't spill too much fat on the barbecue as it could flare up.
3 VERB If something such as trouble, violence, or conflict flares , it starts or becomes more violent. □ [V ] Even as the President appealed for calm, trouble flared in several American cities. ● PHRASAL VERB Flare up means the same as flare . □ [V P ] Dozens of people were injured as fighting flared up.
4 VERB If people's tempers flare , they get angry. □ [V ] Tempers flared and harsh words were exchanged.
5 VERB If someone's nostrils flare or if they flare them, their nostrils become wider, often because the person is angry or upset. □ [V ] I turned to Jacky, my nostrils flaring in disgust. □ [V n] He stuck out his tongue and flared his nostrils.
6 VERB If something such as a dress flares , it spreads outwards at one end to form a wide shape. □ [V ] …a simple black dress, cut to flare from the hips.
7 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Flares are trousers that are very wide at the bottom.
8 → see also flared
▸ flare up
1 PHRASAL VERB If a disease or injury flares up , it suddenly returns or becomes painful again. □ [V P ] Students often find that their acne flares up before and during exams.
2 → see also flare 2 , flare 3 , flare-up
flared /fleə r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Flared skirts or trousers are wider at the bottom or at the end of the legs than at the top. □ In the 1970s they all had flared trousers.
fla re-up (flare-ups ) N‑COUNT If there is a flare-up of violence or of an illness, it suddenly starts or gets worse. □ There's been a flare-up of violence in South Africa.