floss — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A thread used to clean the gaps between the teeth.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. Raw silk fibres.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. The fibres covering a corncob etc.; the loose downy or silky material inside the husks of certain plants, such as beans.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. Any thread-like material having parallel strands that are not spun or wound around each other.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   embroidery floss

5. Spun sugar or cotton candy, especially in the phrase "candy floss".

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

6. A body feather of an ostrich.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Flosses are soft, and grey from the female and black from the male.

7. A dance move in which the dancer repeatedly swings their arms, with clenched fists, from the back of their body to the front, on each side.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Verb

1. To clean the area between (the teeth) using floss.

   Usage

   • Transitive or intransitive

   Examples

   I don't floss very often.

   I floss my teeth twice a day.

2. To show off, especially by exhibiting one's wealth or talent.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Synonyms

   flamboasthigh-sidestunt

   Examples

   As the label's name no doubt implies, these rappers aren't your typical crew, even if they still like to floss and represent their city.

   More examples (1)

   “Ms. Jackson” is probably the most sensitive—and realistic—take on relationships to come out of hip-hop, while “Red Velvet” cautions would-be playas against pushing the floss envelope around “dirty boys” just waiting for a chance to add some gray flecks to that fur.

   It's impossible to floss wealth without attracting envy.

3. To perform the floss dance move.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

Noun

1. A small stream of water.

   Usage

   • UK usage

2. Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present.

Noun

1. The common rush (Juncus effusus).

   Usage

   • Northern-England
   • Scotland

   Synonyms

   common rushsoft rush

Noun

1. a soft loosely twisted thread used in embroidery

   Broader terms

   threadyarn

2. a soft thread for cleaning the spaces between the teeth

   Synonyms

   dental floss

   Broader terms

   threadyarn

Verb

1. use dental floss to clean

   Broader terms

   cleanseclean

   Examples

   floss your teeth after every meal