Word for the day: flood

flood |flʌd|                                                                      *inundación (en Español)



DEFINITION

noun
1 an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land: the villagers had been cut off by floods and landslides | [ as modifier ] : a flood barrier.• ( the Flood )the biblical flood brought by God upon the earth because of the wickedness of the human race (Gen. 6 ff.).• the inflow of the tide.• literary a river, stream, or sea.2 an outpouring of tears: she burst into floods of tears.• an overwhelming quantity of things or people happening or appearing at the same time: his column provoked a flood of complaints | floods of tourists come each year to marvel at the sights.3 short for floodlight.

verb [ with obj. ]1 cover or submerge (an area) with water in a flood: the dam burst, flooding a small town | (as nounflooding) :a serious risk of flooding.• [ no obj. ] become covered or submerged by a flood: part of the vessel flooded | figurative : Sarah's eyesflooded with tears.• (usu. be flooded out) (of a flood) force (someone) to leave their home.• (of a river) become swollen and overflow (its banks).2 fill or suffuse completely: she flooded the room with light | [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] : sunlight flooded in at the windows.• overfill the carburettor of (an engine) with petrol, causing the engine to fail to start.3 [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] arrive in overwhelming amounts or quantities: congratulatory messages flooded in | figurative : his old fears came flooding back.• [ with obj. ] overwhelm with large amounts or quantities: our switchboard was flooded with calls.4 [ no obj. ] (of a woman) experience a uterine haemorrhage.
PHRASES
be in ( full ) flood (of a river) be overflowing its banks. • (be in full flood) be progressing vigorously:discussion was already in full flood and refused to be dammed.
ORIGIN Old English flōd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloed and German Flut, also to flow.

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