Definition of "flux" in English

noun

1. The act of flowing; a continuous moving on or passing by, as of a flowing stream.

   • 1991, Mann, H., Fyfe, W., Tazaki, K., & Kerrich, R., Biological Accumulation of Different Chemical Elements by Microorganisms from Yellowstone National Park, USA. Mechanisms And Phylogeny Of Mineralization In Biological Systems, 357-362. Investigation of the silica budget for the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins of Yellowstone National Park by Truesdell et al. suggest that the present fluxes of hotspring water and thermal energy may have been continuous for at least the past 10,000 yr.

2. A state of ongoing change.

   • The schedule is in flux at the moment.
   • Languages, like our bodies, are in a continual flux.

3. A chemical agent for cleaning metal prior to soldering or welding.

   • It is important to use flux when soldering or oxides on the metal will prevent a good bond.

4. (physics) The rate of transfer of energy (or another physical quantity), especially an electric or magnetic field, through a given surface.

   • That high a neutron flux would be lethal in seconds.

5. (archaic) A disease which causes diarrhea, especially dysentery.

6. (archaic) Diarrhea or other fluid discharge from the body.

7. The state of being liquid through heat; fusion.

verb

1. (transitive) To use flux on.

   • You have to flux the joint before soldering.

2. (transitive) To melt.

3. (intransitive) To flow as a liquid.

adjective

1. (uncommon) Flowing; unstable; inconstant; variable.

   • The flux nature of all things here.