flaw /flɔː / (flaws )
1 N‑COUNT A flaw in something such as a theory or argument is a mistake in it, which causes it to be less effective or valid. □ Almost all of these studies have serious flaws.
2 N‑COUNT A flaw in someone's character is an undesirable quality that they have. □ [+ in ] The only flaw in his character seems to be a short temper.
3 N‑COUNT A flaw in something such as a pattern or material is a fault in it that should not be there.
flawed /flɔː d/ ADJ Something that is flawed has a mark, fault, or mistake in it. □ These tests were so seriously flawed as to render the results meaningless.
flaw|less /flɔː ləs/ ADJ If you say that something or someone is flawless , you mean that they are extremely good and that there are no faults or problems with them. □ She attributed her flawless complexion to the moisturiser she used. □ The acting is flawless. ● flaw|less|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Each stage of the battle was carried off flawlessly.
flax /flæ ks/ N‑UNCOUNT Flax is a plant with blue flowers. Its stem is used for making thread, rope, and cloth, and its seeds are used for making linseed oil.
flax|en /flæ ks ə n/ ADJ [ADJ n] Flaxen hair is pale yellow in colour. [LITERARY ]
flay /fle I / (flays , flaying , flayed ) VERB When someone flays an animal or person, they remove their skin, usually when they are dead. □ [V n] They had to flay the great, white, fleecy animals and cut them up for food.
flea /fliː / (fleas ) N‑COUNT A flea is a very small jumping insect that has no wings and feeds on the blood of humans or animals.
flea mar|ket (flea markets ) N‑COUNT A flea market is an outdoor market which sells cheap used goods and sometimes also very old furniture.
flea|pit /fliː p I t/ (fleapits ) also flea-pit N‑COUNT If you refer to a cinema or theatre as a fleapit , you mean that it is old and does not look very clean or tidy. [BRIT , HUMOROUS , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
fleck /fle k/ (flecks ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Flecks are small marks on a surface, or objects that look like small marks. □ His hair is dark grey with flecks of ginger.
flecked /fle kt/ ADJ Something that is flecked with something is marked or covered with small bits of it. □ [+ with ] His hair was increasingly flecked with grey. ● COMB Flecked is also a combining form. □ He was attired in a plain, mud-flecked uniform.
fled /fle d/ Fled is the past tense and past participle of flee .
fledg|ling /fle dʒl I ŋ/ (fledglings )
1 N‑COUNT A fledgling is a young bird that has its feathers and is learning to fly.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use fledgling to describe a person, organization, or system that is new or without experience. □ …the sound practical advice he gave to fledgling writers. □ …Russia's fledgling democracy.
flee ◆◇◇ /fliː / (flees , fleeing , fled ) VERB [no passive] If you flee from something or someone, or flee a person or thing, you escape from them. [WRITTEN ] □ [V ] He slammed the bedroom door behind him and fled. □ [V prep/adv] He fled to Costa Rica to avoid military service. □ [V n] …refugees fleeing persecution or torture. □ [V n] Thousands have been compelled to flee the country in makeshift boats. SYNONYMS flee VERB
run away: After his beating Colin ran away and hasn't been heard of since.
bolt: The pig rose squealing and bolted.
escape: He was fatally wounded as he tried to escape.
abscond: He was ordered to appear the following day, but absconded.
fleece /fliː s/ (fleeces , fleecing , fleeced )
1 N‑COUNT A sheep's fleece is the coat of wool that covers it.
2 N‑COUNT A fleece is the wool that is cut off one sheep in a single piece.
3 VERB If you fleece someone, you get a lot of money from them by tricking them or charging them too much. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n + out of ] She claims he fleeced her out of thousands of pounds. [Also V n]
4 N‑VAR Fleece is a soft warm artificial fabric. A fleece is also a jacket or other garment made from this fabric.
fleecy /fliː si/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fleecy clothes, blankets, or other objects are made of a soft light material. □ …fleecy walking jackets.
2 ADJ Something that is fleecy is light and soft in appearance. □ It was a lovely afternoon with a blue sky and a few fleecy white clouds.
fleet ◆◇◇ /fliː t/ (fleets )
1 N‑COUNT A fleet is a group of ships organized to do something together, for example to fight battles or to catch fish. □ …restaurants supplied by local fishing fleets.
2 N‑COUNT A fleet of vehicles is a group of them, especially when they all belong to a particular organization or business, or when they are all going somewhere together. □ [+ of ] With its own fleet of trucks, the company delivers most orders overnight.
fleet|ing /fliː t I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Fleeting is used to describe something which lasts only for a very short time. □ The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver. □ She wondered for a fleeting moment if he would put his arm around her. ● fleet|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ A smile passed fleetingly across his face.
Flee t Street N‑PROPER Fleet Street is used to refer to British national newspapers and to the journalists who work for them. □ He was the highest-paid sub-editor in Fleet Street. □ …Fleet Street journalists.