flop|house /flɒ phaʊs/ (flophouses ) N‑COUNT A flophouse is a kind of cheap hotel in a city for people who have no home and very little money. [AM , INFORMAL ] in BRIT, use doss-house
flop|py /flɒ pi/ ADJ Something that is floppy is loose rather than stiff, and tends to hang downwards. □ …the girl with the floppy hat and glasses.
flo p|py di sk (floppy disks ) in BRIT, also use floppy disc N‑COUNT A floppy disk is a small magnetic disk that was used in the past for storing computer data and programs. Floppy disks were used especially with personal computers.
flo|ra /flɔː rə/ N‑UNCOUNT [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to plants as flora , especially the plants growing in a particular area. [FORMAL ] □ …the variety of food crops and flora which now exists in Dominica.
flo|ral /flɔː rəl/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A floral fabric or design has flowers on it. □ …a bright yellow floral fabric.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use floral to describe something that contains flowers or is made of flowers. □ …eye-catching floral arrangements.
flo|ret /flɒ r I t/ (florets )
1 N‑COUNT On a flowering plant, a floret is a small flower that is part of a larger flower.
2 N‑COUNT On vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, a floret is one of the small, flower-shaped pieces which make up the part of the vegetable that you eat.
flor|id /flɒ r I d, [AM ] flɔː r-/
1 ADJ If you describe something as florid , you disapprove of the fact that it is complicated and extravagant rather than plain and simple. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …florid language.
2 ADJ Someone who is florid always has a red face. □ Jacobs was a stout, florid man.
flor|in /flɒ r I n, [AM ] flɔː r-/ (florins ) N‑COUNT A florin was a British coin that was worth two shillings.
flo|rist /flɒ r I st, [AM ] flɔː r-/ (florists )
1 N‑COUNT A florist is a shopkeeper who arranges and sells flowers and sells house plants.
2 N‑COUNT A florist or a florist's is a shop where flowers and house plants are sold.
floss /flɒ s, [AM ] flɔː s/ (flosses , flossing , flossed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT You can use floss to refer to fine soft threads of some kind. □ Craft Resources also sells yarn and embroidery floss.
2 → see also candyfloss , dental floss
3 VERB When you floss , you use a special kind of strong string to clean between your teeth and gums. □ [V ] Brush your teeth after each meal and floss daily. □ [V n] She was flossing her teeth at the time.
flo|ta|tion /floʊte I ʃ ə n/ (flotations )
1 N‑VAR The flotation of a company is the selling of shares in it to the public. [BUSINESS ]
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A flotation compartment helps something to float because it is filled with air or gas.
flo|til|la /flət I lə/ (flotillas ) N‑COUNT A flotilla is a group of small ships, usually military ships.
flot|sam /flɒ tsəm/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Flotsam is rubbish, for example bits of wood and plastic, that is floating on the sea or has been left by the sea on the shore. □ The water was full of flotsam and refuse.
2 PHRASE You can use flotsam and jetsam to refer to small or unimportant items that are found together, especially ones that have no connection with each other. □ [+ of ] …cornflake packets, bottles, and all the flotsam and jetsam of the kitchen.
flounce /flaʊ ns/ (flounces , flouncing , flounced )
1 VERB If you flounce somewhere, you walk there quickly with exaggerated movements, in a way that shows you are annoyed or upset. □ [V adv/prep] She flounced out of my room in a huff. □ [V ] She will flounce and argue when asked to leave the room.
2 N‑COUNT A flounce is a piece of cloth that has been sewn into folds and put around the edge of something, for example a skirt, dress, tablecloth, or curtain. □ …a gown with a flounce round the hem.
floun|der /flaʊ ndə r / (flounders , floundering , floundered )
1 VERB If something is floundering , it has many problems and may soon fail completely. □ [V ] What a pity that his career was left to flounder. □ [V ] The economy was floundering.
2 VERB If you say that someone is floundering , you are criticizing them for not making decisions or for not knowing what to say or do. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] The president is floundering, trying to get his campaign jump-started. □ [V around ] I know that you're floundering around, trying to grasp at any straw.
3 VERB If you flounder in water or mud, you move in an uncontrolled way, trying not to sink. □ [V adv/prep] Three men were floundering about in the water. [Also V ]
flour /flaʊə r / (flours , flouring , floured )
1 N‑VAR Flour is a white or brown powder that is made by grinding grain. It is used to make bread, cakes, and pastry.
2 VERB If you flour cooking equipment or food, you cover it with flour. □ [V n] Lightly flour a rolling pin. □ [V -ed] Remove the dough from the bowl and put it on a floured surface.
flour|ish /flʌ r I ʃ, [AM ] flɜː r-/ (flourishes , flourishing , flourished )
1 VERB If something flourishes , it is successful, active, or common, and developing quickly and strongly. □ [V ] Business flourished and within six months they were earning 18,000 roubles a day. ● flour|ish|ing ADJ □ London quickly became a flourishing port.