FLEX

Pronunciation (US):

• FLEX (noun)
  The noun FLEX has 1 sense:

1. the act of flexing

  Familiarity information: FLEX used as a noun is very rare.

• FLEX (verb)
  The verb FLEX has 5 senses:

1. contract
2. exhibit the strength of
3. form a curve
4. bend a joint
5. cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

  Familiarity information: FLEX used as a verb is common.

• FLEX (noun)

Meaning:

The act of flexing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies

Hypernyms ("flex" is a kind of...):

flexion; flexure (act of bending a joint; especially a joint between the bones of a limb so that the angle between them is decreased)

• FLEX (verb)

Meaning:

Contract

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

flex a muscle

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Exhibit the strength of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The victorious army flexes its invincibility

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

flash; flaunt; ostentate; show off; swank (display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Form a curve

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bend; flex

Context example:

The stick does not bend

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "flex"):

cower; crawl; creep; cringe; fawn; grovel (show submission or fear)

double; double over; double up (bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain)

bend; bow; crouch; stoop (bend one's back forward from the waist on down)

angle; lean; slant; tilt; tip (to incline or bend from a vertical position)

replicate; retroflex (bend or turn backward)

incurvate (bend inwards)

arc; arch; curve (form an arch or curve)

crook; curve (bend or cause to bend)

curl; curl up; draw in (shape one's body into a curl)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The glass tubes flex

Meaning:

Bend a joint

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

flex; bend

Context examples:

flex your wrists / bend your knees

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Meaning:

Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

twist; bend; deform; flex; turn

Context examples:

bend the rod / twist the dough into a braid / the strong man could turn an iron bar

Hypernyms (to "flex" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "flex"):

dent; indent (make a depression into)

incurvate (cause to curve inward)

gnarl (twist into a state of deformity)

crank (bend into the shape of a crank)

convolute; convolve (curl, wind, or twist together)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something