1. [n]  fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain
2. [v]  convert grain into flour
3. [v]  cover with flour, as of fish or meat, in cooking

1. \Flour\, n. [F. fleur de farine the flower (i.e., the
   best) of meal, cf. Sp. flor de la harina superfine flour,
   Icel. fl["u]r flower, flour. See {Flower}.]
   The finely ground meal of wheat, or of any other grain;
   especially, the finer part of meal separated by bolting;
   hence, the fine and soft powder of any substance; as, flour
   of emery; flour of mustard.
   {Flour bolt}, in milling, a gauze-covered, revolving,
      cylindrical frame or reel, for sifting the flour from the
      refuse contained in the meal yielded by the stones.
   {Flour box} a tin box for scattering flour; a dredging box.
   {Flour} {dredge or dredger}, a flour box.
   {Flour dresser}, a mashine for sorting and distributing flour
      according to grades of fineness.
   {Flour mill}, a mill for grinding and sifting flour.
   

2. \Flour\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Floured}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Flouring}.]
   1. To grind and bolt; to convert into flour; as, to flour
      wheat.
   2. To sprinkle with flour.
   

Grain reduced to the form of meal is spoken of in the time of Abraham (Gen. 18:6). As baking was a daily necessity, grain was also ground daily at the mills (Jer. 25:10). The flour mingled with water was kneaded in kneading-troughs, and sometimes leaven (Ex. 12:34) was added and sometimes omitted (Gen. 19:3). The dough was then formed into thin cakes nine or ten inches in diameter and baked in the oven.

Fine flour was offered by the poor as a sin-offering (Lev. 5:11-13), and also in connection with other sacrifices (Num. 15:3-12; 28:7-29).