Flush

(1) A redness of the skin, typically over the cheeks or neck. A flush is usually temporary and brought on by excitement, exercise, fever, or embarrassment. Flushing is an involuntary (uncontrollable) response of the nervous system leading to widening of the capillaries of the involved skin. Also referred to as a blush (or, as a verb, to blush). Flushing may also be caused by medications or other substances that cause widening of the capillaries, such as niacin. (2) Flush also means to wash out a wound or body area.

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1. To wash out with a full stream of fluid. 2. A transient erythema due to heat, exertion, stress, or disease. 3. Flat, or even with another surface, as a f. stoma.

- carcinoid f. periodic hyperemia (flushing) of the skin of the face and other parts of the body seen in patients with a carcinoid tumor; the tumors elaborate a variety of monoamines and peptide hormones, but the exact cause of the f. is uncertain; f. can be precipitated by alcohol, food, stress, or palpation of the liver.

- hectic f. redness of the face associated with a rise of temperature in various fevers.

- histamine f. vasodilation and erythema occurring as a result of release of histamine; thought to be a factor in genesis of f. of carcinoid syndrome.

- hot f. colloquialism for a vasomotor symptom of the climacteric characterized by sudden vasodilation with a sensation of heat, usually involving the face and neck, and upper part of the chest. Cf.:hot flash.

- malar f. localized hectic f. and warmth of the malar eminences, often occurring in tuberculosis and sometimes seen in rheumatic fever or systemic lupus erythematosus.

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flush 'fləsh n a transitory sensation of extreme heat (as in response to some drugs or in some physiological states) <menopausal \flushes>

flush vi to blush or become suddenly suffused with color due to vasodilation vt to cleanse or wash out with or as if with a rush of liquid <the newly sewn incision is \flushed with saline (Don Gold)>

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n.

reddening of the face and/or neck. Hectic flush occurs in such wasting diseases as pulmonary tuberculosis. A hot flush, accompanied by a feeling of heat, occurs in some emotional disorders and during the menopause (see vasomotor symptoms).

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(flush) 1. transient, episodic redness of the face and neck; it occurs normally in situations of heat, physical exertion, or certain emotions, and pathologically after ingestion of some drugs or other substances and in certain diseases. See also erythema. 2. to wash out with fluid.