Definition of "floss" in English

noun

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

2. Raw silk fibres.

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

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

   • embroidery floss

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

6. A body feather of an ostrich.

   • 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.

verb

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

   • I don't floss very often.
   • I floss my teeth twice a day.

2. (slang, African-American Vernacular) To show off, especially by exhibiting one's wealth or talent.

3. (intransitive) To perform the floss dance move.

noun

1. (UK) A small stream of water.

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

noun

1. (Northern England, Scotland) The common rush (Juncus effusus).