flex

Latin flexus, past participle of flecto (“to bend”).

• IPA^(key): /flɛks/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɛks
• Homophone: flecks

flex (countable and uncountable, plural flexes)

1. (uncountable) Flexibility, pliancy.
2. (countable) The act of flexing.
3. (uncountable, chiefly Britain) Any flexible insulated electrical wiring.
4. (countable, geometry) A point of inflection.

flex (third-person singular simple present flexes, present participle flexing, simple past and past participle flexed)

1. To bend something.
2. To repeatedly bend one of one's joints.
3. To move part of the body using one's muscles.
4. To tighten the muscles for display of size or strength.
   • 1994, Elise Title, Body Heat‎, page 189:

     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?"

5. (slang, by extension) To flaunt one's superiority.

• XFEL