Here's the breakdown:
* Flee (noun): This word means "an act of fleeing." It's a noun, referring to the action itself.
* Example: "The refugees' flee was desperate and dangerous."
* Fleeing (present participle): This is a verb form that describes an ongoing action. It acts as an adjective modifying a noun or as a verb in a sentence.
* Example: "The fleeing refugees were desperately seeking safety."
In essence, "fleeing" indicates the process of fleeing, while "flee" refers to the act itself.