flex

plural flexes

1. uncountableFlexibility, pliancy.
2. countableAn act of flexing.

   The hills become more rounded. The slopes are either the stooped shoulders of an aging colossus or the muscular flexes of a geologic youngster, but they are pleasant, comforting. This landscape is what most would think of […]

   2002, Gary Noy, Red Dirt: A Journey of Discovery in the Landscape of Imagination, California's Gold Country, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 144

3. IrelandUKuncountableAny flexible insulated electrical wiring.
4. countableA flexible insulated electrical cord.

   'That's enough,' said Le Chiffre. 'Tie his arms and put him in the car. Here,' he threw a roll of flex to the man.

   1953, Ian Fleming, “The Crawling of the Skin”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 110

   1 more example

   The books lent her by Dr Grimble on period furniture and ceramics interested her deeply, and she studied them at night in the silence of the shop, where she had a flex and a reading lamp installed at her own expense.

   1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 57

5. uncountableFlexible ductwork, typically flexible plastic over a metal wire coil to shape a tube.

   Flex is quick and cheaper to install than metallic systems, but it yields higher pressure loss than other types of ducts and requires runs of less than 15 feet, minimal turns and elimination of kinks.

   2010, Aaron Lubeck, Green Restorations: Sustainable Building and Historic Homes, page 221

6. countablegeometryA point of inflection.
7. countableslangAn act or instance of flaunting something; a boast or brag; something considered impressive.

   It's an achievement to stand out from other Marvel movies in terms of special effects, but this whole movie feels like a flex for those computer wizards.

   2019, Seth Sommerfeld, "Worldwide Web", Inlander, 4 July 2019 - 10 July 2019, page 37

   1 more example

   Getting together with other power players at Masa is the ultimate flex of conspicuous consumption. […] A party of five or more requires a deposit of $200 per person at least one week prior to the reservation.

   2017, "Mogul Bites", Black American Moguls, Fall 2017, page 6

present singular third person flexes · participle present flexing · participle past flexed · past flexed

1. transitivechiefly physics or biomechanicsTo bend something.

   The board flexes as you step on it.

2. transitiveTo repeatedly bend one of one's joints.
3. transitiveTo move part of the body using one's muscles.
4. intransitiveTo tighten the muscles for display of size or strength.

   He rubbed his hands together. "Believe it or not, there was a time when I considered giving acting a go. What do you think, Miss Fox?" He flexed impressive biceps. "Would I have had a chance against the Schwarzeneggers and the Chuck Norris types?"

   1994, Elise Title, Body Heat, page 189

5. slangtransitiveTo boast or brag about; to flaunt (something).

   I've got billions and billions of rhymes to flex / 'Cause I've got more rhymes than Carl Sagan's got turtlenecks

   2004, “Hey Fuck You”, in To the 5 Boroughs, performed by Beastie Boys

6. intransitiveslangTo flaunt one's superiority; to show off.

   They say it's lonely at the top, but this the best shit ever / Hey, don't you see me out here shinin'? Bitch I'm barely flexin'

   2017, “Kill Jill”, in Boomiverse, performed by Big Boi ft. Killer Mike and Jeezy

   1 more example

   I shook my head, wondering if I was gonna have to knock Pimp on his ass. "I don't know where," I flexed on him with my height advantage, "you getting all this 'soft' bullshit from, dawg, but you just keep fuckin around. I can show you gangsta better than I can tell you."

   2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 108

   Synonyms: aura farm, preen, stunt, aura farm, boulevardier, cut a wide swath, cut it fat, cut round