Definition: Flood

Etymology

From Middle English flod, from Old English flōd, from Proto-West Germanic *flōdu, from Proto-Germanic *flōduz, from *plew- (“to flow”).

Cognate with Scots flude, Dutch vloed, German Flut, Danish flod, Icelandic flóð.

Noun

flood (plural floods)

1. A (usually disastrous) overflow of water from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water.
2. (figuratively) A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.

   a flood of complaints

3. The flowing in of the tide (in the sense of "flowing water"), opposed to the ebb

Derived terms

• flash flood
• floodgate
• floodlight
• flood plain
• floodprone
• floodproof
• flood stage
• floodwater
• megaflood
• outburst flood

Verb

flood (third-person singular simple present floods, present participle flooding, simple past and past participle flooded)

1. To overflow, as by water from excessive rainfall.
2. To cover or partly fill as if by a flood.

   The floor was flooded with beer.

   They flooded the room with sewage.

3. (figuratively) To provide (someone or something) with a larger number or quantity of something than can easily be dealt with.

   The station's switchboard was flooded with listeners making complaints.

Credits

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