Do we need the flow definition metadata to deploy or retrieve a flow from vs code?

Question

Update_Interest_Subject_Type_Text_Field (Update Records) - This flow can't reference $Record because its trigger type is None. 
Change the trigger type, change the flow global variable, or remove the flow global variable from this flow.

force-app\main\default\flows\Update_Mass_Email_With_Covering_Professional_s_Business_Unit.flow-meta.xml      
Get_All_Mass_Email_Contacts (Get Records) - This flow can't reference $Record because its trigger type is None. 
Change the trigger type, change the flow global variable, or remove the flow global variable from this flow.               

force-app\main\default\flows\Update_Notes_and_Files_With_Account_s_Covering_Business_Unit.flow-meta.xml Get_Related_Account (Get Records) - This flow can't reference $Record because its trigger type is None. Change the trigger type, change the flow global variable, or remove the flow global variable from this flow.
force-app\main\default\flows\Update_Task_With_Related_Account_s_Covering_Business_Unit.flow-meta.xml Get_Related_Account (Get Records) - This flow can't reference $Record because its trigger type is None. Change the trigger type, change the flow global variable, or remove the flow global variable from this flow.

I am getting the following error. I have not defined flow definition in package.xml and also there is no "flow definition" folder in the project. I don't have the flows in any orgs but only on gitlab.