flood

¹flood

noun \ˈfləd\

Definition of FLOOD

1

a : a rising and overflowing of a body of water especially onto normally dry land; also : a condition of overflowing <rivers in flood>

b capitalized : a flood described in the Bible as covering the earth in the time of Noah

2

: the flowing in of the tide

3

: an overwhelming quantity or volume; also : a state of abundant flow or volume —often used in the phrase in full flood <a debate in full flood>

4

: floodlight

Examples of FLOOD

1. A flood inundated the whole area.
2. the devastating flood of 1936
3. The water has risen to flood level.
4. We've received a flood of mail.
5. a flood of phone calls
6. Seeing her again brought back a flood of memories.

Origin of FLOOD

Middle English, from Old English flōd; akin to Old High German fluot flood, Old English flōwan to flow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FLOOD

Synonyms

alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood tide, inundation, Niagara, overflow, spate, torrent

Antonyms

drought (also drouth)

Related Words

current, river, stream, tide; cloudburst, discharge, flush, gush, outflow, outpouring; flux, inflow, influx; engulfment, washout; avalanche, blizzard; cascade, waterfall; excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms

dribble, drip, trickle

Other Bible Terms

antediluvian, apocalyptic, apocrypha, behemoth

Rhymes with FLOOD

blood, bud, crud, cud, dud, fud, mud, rudd, scud, spud, stud, sudd, thud

²flood

verb

Definition of FLOOD

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a flood : inundate

2

a : to fill abundantly or excessively <flood the market>

b : to supply an excess of fuel to (as an engine or its carburetor) so that engine operation is hampered

intransitive verb

1

: to pour forth, go, or come in a flood

2

: to become filled with a flood

— flood·er noun

Examples of FLOOD

1. Heavy rains flooded the valley.
2. The rivers are close to flooding.
3. The valley flooded after the heavy rains.
4. The plain floods every spring.
5. The room was flooded with light.
6. The company plans to flood the market with this product.
7. The office has been flooded with phone calls.
8. The phone calls have been flooding in.
9. Refugees flooded into the camp.
10. Light flooded into the room.

First Known Use of FLOOD

1663

Related to FLOOD

Synonyms

deluge, drown, engulf, gulf, inundate, overflow, overwhelm, submerge, submerse, swamp

Antonyms

drain

Related Words

avalanche, smother; overcome, overrun; flow, flush, gush, pour, sluice, spout, spurt, stream; douse (also dowse), drench, soak, wet

Near Antonyms

dehydrate, dry, parch

flood

intransitive verb \ˈfləd\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FLOOD

: to have an excessive menstrual flow or a uterine hemorrhage after childbirth

flood

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

High-water stage in which water overflows its natural or artificial banks onto normally dry land, such as a river inundating its floodplain. Uncontrollable floods likely to cause considerable damage commonly result from excessive rainfall in a brief period, but they may also result from ice jams during the spring rise in rivers, and from tsunamis. Common measures of flood control include improving channels, constructing protective levees and storage reservoirs, and implementing programs of soil and forest conservation to retard and absorb runoff from storms.