Standard Lemma guide

reflux

noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈɹiː.flʌks/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY1 F L AH2 K S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The backwards flow of any fluid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backflow, backflux

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flow, flux

2

noun

Meaning 2

A technique, using a reflux condenser, allowing one to boil the contents of a vessel over an extended period.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The leaking of stomach acid up into the oesophagus.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: medicine, pathology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To flow back or return.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • the refluxing tide

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backflow, backflux

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flow, flux

5

verb

Meaning 5

To boil a liquid in a vessel having a reflux condenser.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the outward flow of the tide

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ebb

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flow, flowing

7

noun

Meaning 7

an abnormal backward flow of body fluids

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pathology

Narrower terms: gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal reflux, oesophageal reflux, hepatojugular reflux, ureterorenal reflux, vesicoureteral reflux

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отлив (otliv) — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Bulgarian: оттегляне (ottegljane) — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Chinese Mandarin: 回流 (huíliú) — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Finnish: takaisinvirtaus — backwards flow of any fluid
  • French: reflux — backwards flow of any fluid
  • German: Rückfluss — backwards flow of any fluid
  • German: Reflux — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Icelandic: bakflæði — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Indonesian: refluks — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Polish: odpływ — backwards flow of any fluid
  • Spanish: reflujo — backwards flow of any fluid
  • French: reflux — technique using a reflux condenser
  • German: Rückfluss — technique using a reflux condenser
  • Irish: aife — technique using a reflux condenser
  • Korean: 환류 (hwallyu) — technique using a reflux condenser
  • Polish: wykroplina — technique using a reflux condenser