Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense flexes, present participle flexing, past tense, past participle flexed
1. variable noun
A flex is an electric cable containing two or more wires that is connected to an electrical appliance.
[mainly British]regional note: in AM, use cord
2. verb
If you flex your muscles or parts of your body, you bend, move, or stretch them for a short time in order to exercise them.
He slowly flexed his muscles and tried to stand. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bend, contract, stretch, angle More Synonyms of flex
3. to flex your muscles
flex in British English
(flɛks)
noun
1. British
a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains
US and Canadian name: cord
2. informal
flexibility or pliability
3. US slang
an instance of flaunting one's attributes or possessions in an ostentatious way
verb
4.
to bend or be bent
he flexed his arm
his arm flexed
5.
to contract (a muscle) or (of a muscle) to contract
6. (intransitive)
to work according to flexitime
7.
to test or display (one's authority or strength)
8. US slang
to flaunt (one's attributes or possessions) in an ostentatious way
Word origin
C16: from Latin flexus bent, winding, from flectere to bend, bow
flex in American English1
(flɛks)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
1.
to bend (an arm, knee, etc.)
2.
to tense (a muscle) by contraction
Word origin
< L flexus, pp. of flectere, to bend, curve
flex in American English2
(flɛks)
noun
British
flexible, insulated electric cord
Word origin
< flexible
flex in Electrical Engineering
(flɛks)
Word forms: (plural) flexes
noun
(Electrical engineering: General)
A flex is a flexible insulated electric cable, used especially to connect appliances to the mains electricity.
Faulty flexes on electrical appliances cause 1,000 fires and several deaths a year.
Buy specially designed childproof safety covers to protect your child from open socketsand ensure that all electrical flexes are pushed to the back of work surfaces, well out of reach.
A flex is a flexible insulated electric cable, used especially to connect appliances tothe mains electricity.
More idioms containing
flex
flex your muscles
Examples of 'flex' in a sentence
flex
They were unfinished but I was learning how to flex that creative muscle again.
The Sun (2016)
Saracens can flex their muscles and, once they have you caught in an arm wrestle, they have you where they want you.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Presumably because the flex is too short for them to get a proper walk.
The Sun (2011)
But he also has flexed his time again and again this winter.
Christianity Today (2000)
Britain needed to be seen to be flexing its muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And they have barely begun to flex their muscle.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This was the first time we have flexed our muscles and that will have come as a shock.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It comes as increasing numbers of investors flex their muscles against companies that fail properly to link pay with performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Avoid lifting and twisting at the same time and flex your knees rather than your back when setting a load down.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Wear flight socks, do lots of flexing exercises and move around as much as you can.
The Sun (2006)
Also, very short flex on kettle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The lower back shouldn't flex or move.
The Sun (2006)
Keeping your elbows in, flex the arms towards the shoulders.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Rivals are also suffering as the insurers flex their new-found muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
If he has any muscles, now is the time to flex them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Having enjoyed studying the subject, he always wanted to flex his musical muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He was called for throwing and cynics claim cricket's laws on flexing the arm were changed for him.
The Sun (2011)
It would have been nice to stand up straight, to take a deep breath and flex my muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You can still flex and move them in the normal way, but they feel as though they have twice the power.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And as you recover, you'll need specific exercises to help the joint flex and bend more often.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
flex
British English: flex /flɛks/ NOUN
A flex is an electric cable containing wires that is connected to an electrical appliance.
American English: electric cord
Arabic: سِلْكٌ كَهْرَبَائِيّ مَعْزُول لي
Brazilian Portuguese: cabo elétrico flexível
Chinese: 电线
Croatian: vodič
Czech: šňůra kabel
Danish: ledning
Dutch: snoer
European Spanish: cable
Finnish: sähköjohto
French: fil électrique
German: Kabel
Greek: εύκαμπτο καλώδιο πρίζας
Italian: cordoncino
Japanese: 電気コード
Korean: 전선 연장
Norwegian: ledning
Polish: giętki przewód izolowany
European Portuguese: cabo eléctrico flexível
Romanian: cablu de conexiune
Russian: гибкий провод
Latin American Spanish: cable eléctrico
Swedish: sladd
Thai: สายไฟ
Turkish: kablo
Ukrainian: шнур
Vietnamese: dây mềm
British English: flex VERB
If you flex your muscles or parts of your body, you bend, move, or stretch them for a short time in order to exercise them.
He slowly flexed his muscles and tried to stand.
American English: flex
Brazilian Portuguese: flexionar
Chinese: 屈伸 >肌肉或身体某部分
European Spanish: tensar
French: faire jouer
German: beugen
Italian: contrarre
Japanese: >動かす筋肉・体の一部を
Korean: 몸을 풀다
European Portuguese: flexionar
Latin American Spanish: tensar y flexionar
Chinese translation of 'flex'
flex
(flɛks)
n(c/u)
(Brit)[of appliance]电(電)线(線) (diànxiàn) (根, gēn)
美 = cord
vt
[muscles, fingers]屈曲 (qūqū)
(verb)
Definition
to bend and stretch (a muscle)
He slowly flexed his muscles.
Synonyms
bend
Bend the bar into a horseshoe.
contract
As we move our bodies, our muscles contract and relax.
stretch
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
angle
You can angle the slats for more shade.
curve
The track curved away below him.
tighten
He flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.
crook
He crooked his finger and said, `Come here.'
move
Additional synonyms
in the sense of angle
Definition
to move in or place at an angle
You can angle the slats for more shade.
Synonyms
slant,
aim,
bend,
incline,
tilt,
skew
in the sense of contract
Definition
to draw (muscles) together or (of muscles) to be drawn together
As we move our bodies, our muscles contract and relax.
Synonyms
tighten,
narrow,
knit,
purse,
shorten,
pucker,
wrinkle
in the sense of crook
Definition
to bend or curve
He crooked his finger and said, `Come here.'
Synonyms
bend,
hook,
angle,
bow,
curve,
curl,
cock,
flex
Synonyms of 'flex'
flex
Explore 'flex' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of curve
Definition
to form into or move in a curve
The track curved away below him.
Synonyms
bend,
turn,
wind,
twist,
bow,
arch,
snake,
arc,
coil,
swerve
in the sense of stretch
Definition
to draw (something) tight
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
Synonyms
pull,
distend,
pull out of shape,
strain,
swell,
tighten,
rack,
inflate,
lengthen,
draw out,
elongate
in the sense of tighten
Definition
to make or become tight or tighter
He flung his whole weight back, tightening the rope.