n. [ L. fluxus, fr. fluere, fluxum, to flow: cf.F. flux. See Fluent, and cf. 1st & 2d Floss, Flush, n., 6. ] 1. The act of flowing; a continuous moving on or passing by, as of a flowing stream; constant succession; change. [ 1913 Webster ] By the perpetual flux of the liquids, a great part of them is thrown out of the body. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ] Her image has escaped the flux of things, And that same infant beauty that she wore Is fixed upon her now forevermore. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ] Languages, like our bodies, are in a continual flux. Felton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The setting in of the tide toward the shore, -- the ebb being called the reflux. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. The state of being liquid through heat; fusion. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Chem. & Metal.) Any substance or mixture used to promote the fusion of metals or minerals, as alkalies, borax, lime, fluorite. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ White flux is the residuum of the combustion of a mixture of equal parts of niter and tartar. It consists chiefly of the carbonate of potassium, and is white. -- Black flux is the ressiduum of the combustion of one part of niter and two of tartar, and consists essentially of a mixture of potassium carbonate and charcoal. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. (Med.) (a) A fluid discharge from the bowels or other part; especially, an excessive and morbid discharge; as, the bloody flux or dysentery. See Bloody flux. (b) The matter thus discharged. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. (Physics) The quantity of a fluid that crosses a unit area of a given surface in a unit of time. [ 1913 Webster ] |