English Reference

Word

floss

US/ˈfɫɑs/

UK/flˈɒs/

Definitions

01dental thread

B1 · Medicine

n. a special thin thread you use to clean the spaces between your teeth.

n. a soft, strong thread used to clean between the teeth and under the gumline.

“The dentist told me that using floss every night is just as important as brushing.”

“Regular use of dental floss is essential for removing plaque from interdental spaces where a toothbrush cannot reach.”

Synonyms

dental floss

03dance move

B2

n. a popular dance move where you swing your arms quickly from front to back around your body.

n. a dance move involving rapid swinging of the arms with clenched fists behind and in front of the torso.

“The kids were all doing the floss on the playground after the video went viral.”

“The floss became a global phenomenon among younger demographics after being featured in popular video games and social media challenges.”

Informal

Synonyms

flossing

04spun sugar

B1 · Cooking

n. a sweet snack made of thin threads of sugar, usually sold at fairs.

n. a light, fluffy sweet made of spun sugar, typically served on a stick.

“We bought a large stick of pink candy floss at the summer fair.”

“The vendor at the carnival was expertly spinning candy floss for a long queue of excited children.”

British English

Synonyms

cotton candycandy floss

05to clean teeth

B1 · Medicine

v. to clean between your teeth using a thin thread.

v. to clean the interdental spaces of the teeth using dental floss.

“You should floss at least once a day to keep your gums healthy.”

“Patients who floss daily demonstrate significantly lower rates of gingivitis compared to those who only brush.”

06to show off

C1

v. to show off your money, expensive things, or talent to make others notice you.

v. to behave ostentatiously; to show off one's wealth, possessions, or achievements.

“He was just trying to floss by wearing all that expensive jewellery to the party.”

“The lyrics often describe characters who floss their wealth to establish social status within their community.”

Slang

Domain

Computing

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference