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)
- A (usually disastrous) overflow of water from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water.
- (figuratively) A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
- a flood of complaints
- 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)
- To overflow, as by water from excessive rainfall.
- To cover or partly fill as if by a flood.
- The floor was flooded with beer.
- They flooded the room with sewage.
- (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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