Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense floods, present participle flooding, past tense, past participle flooded
1. variable noun
If there is a flood, a large amount of water covers an area which is usually dry, for example when a river flows over its banks or a pipe bursts.
More than 70 people were killed in the floods, caused when a dam burst.
This is the type of flood dreaded by cavers.
Over 25 people drowned when a schoolbus tried to cross a river and flood waters sweptthrough.
Synonyms: deluge, downpour, flash flood, inundation More Synonyms of flood
2. verb
If something such as a river or a burst pipe floods an area that is usually dry or if the area floods, it becomes covered with water.
The Chicago River flooded the city's underground tunnel system. [VERB noun]
The kitchen flooded. [VERB]
floodedadjective
People were mobilised to drain flooded land as heavy rains continued to fall.
3. verb
If a river floods, it overflows, especially after very heavy rain.
...the relentless rain that caused twenty rivers to flood. [VERB]
Many streams have flooded their banks, making some roads impassable. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: pour over, swamp, run over, overflow More Synonyms of flood
4. countable noun
If you say that a floodof people or things arrive somewhere, you are emphasizing that a very large number of them arrive there.
[emphasis]
...a flood of new university graduates. [+ of]
He received a flood of letters from irate constituents. [+ of]
Synonyms: series, stream, avalanche, barrage More Synonyms of flood
5. verb
If you say that people or things flood into a place, you are emphasizing that they arrive there in large numbers.
[emphasis]
Enquiries flooded in from all over the world. [VERB preposition/adverb]
They flooded out of the ground in their thousands long before the final whistle. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: stream, flow, rush, pour More Synonyms of flood
6. verb
If you flood a place with a particular type of thing, or if a particular type of thing floods a place, the place becomes full of so many of them that it cannot hold or deal with any more.
...a policy aimed at flooding Europe with exports. [VERB noun + with]
Brokers expect the markets to be flooded with the shares. [VERB noun with noun]
German cameras at knock-down prices flooded the British market. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: saturate, fill, choke, swamp More Synonyms of flood
floodedadjective
...the danger of Europe becoming flooded with low-cost agricultural imports.
7. verb
If an emotion, feeling, or thought floods you, you suddenly feel it very intensely. If feelings or memories flood back, you suddenly remember them very clearly.
[literary]
A wave of happiness flooded me. [VERB noun]
Mary Ann was flooded with relief. [beVERB-ed + with]
It was probably the shock which had brought all the memories flooding back. [VERB adverb]
8. verb
If light floods a place or floods into it, it suddenly fills it.
The afternoon light flooded the little rooms. [VERB noun]
Morning sunshine flooded in through the open curtains. [VERB preposition/adverb]
9. See also flash flood
10.
See in flood
11.
See floods of tears
Phrasal verbs:
See flood out
More Synonyms of flood
flood in British English
(flʌd)
noun
1.
a.
the inundation of land that is normally dry through the overflowing of a body of water, esp a river
b.
the state of a river that is at an abnormally high level (esp in the phrase in flood)
▶ Related adjective: diluvial
2.
a great outpouring or flow
a flood of words
3.
a.
the rising of the tide from low to high water
b.
(as modifier)
the flood tide
Compare ebb (sense 3)
4. theatre short for floodlight
5. archaic
a large body of water, as the sea or a river
verb
6.
(of water) to inundate or submerge (land) or (of land) to be inundated or submerged
7.
to fill or be filled to overflowing, as with a flood
the children's home was flooded with gifts
8. (intransitive)
to flow; surge
relief flooded through him
9.
to supply an excessive quantity of petrol to (a carburettor or petrol engine) or (of a carburettor, etc) to be supplied with such an excess
10. (intransitive)
to rise to a flood; overflow
11. (intransitive)
a.
to bleed profusely from the uterus, as following childbirth
b.
to have an abnormally heavy flow of blood during a menstrual period
Derived forms
floodable (ˈfloodable)
adjective
flooder (ˈflooder)
noun
floodless (ˈfloodless)
adjective
Word origin
Old English flōd; related to Old Norse flōth, Gothic flōdus, Old High German fluot flood, Greek plōtos navigable; see flow, float
Flood in British English1
(flʌd)
noun
the Flood
Flood in British English2
(flʌd)
noun
Henry. 1732–91, Anglo-Irish politician: leader of the parliamentary opposition to English rule
flood in American English
(flʌd)
noun
1.
an overflowing of water on an area normally dry; inundation; deluge
2.
the flowing in of water from the sea as the tide rises
3.
a great flow or outpouring
a flood of words
4. Informal
floodlight
5. Archaic
a.
water, as opposed to land
b.
a large body of water, as a sea or broad river
verb transitive
6.
to cover or fill with or as with a flood; overflow; inundate
rain flooded the valley; music flooded the room
7.
to put much or too much water, fuel, etc. on or in
to flood a carburetor
verb intransitive
8.
to rise, flow, or gush out in or as in a flood
9.
to become flooded
Idioms:
the Flood
Word origin
ME flode < OE flod, akin to Ger flut: for IE base see flow
flood in Insurance
(flʌd)
Word forms: (regular plural) floods
noun
(Insurance: Residence insurance)
If there is a flood, a large amount of water covers an area which is usually dry.
Water damage from floods is covered under separate insurance policies issued by the federal government.
The flood risk of homeowners in floodplain areas is 26 times their fire risk.
If there is a flood, a large amount of water covers an area which is usually dry.
coverage
Examples of 'flood' in a sentence
flood
Silence, then the trickle at once became a small flood of words.
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN (2001)
The sort of stains left by a flood that had reached almost to the top.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
The undergrowth encroaching upon them from all sides gleamed coldly in the light from the high-intensity flood lamps.
Wright, L R SLEEP WHILE I SING (2001)
In other languages
flood
British English: flood /flʌd/ NOUN
If there is a flood, a large amount of water covers an area which is usually dry.
Many people were injured in the floods.
American English: flood
Arabic: فَيَضَان
Brazilian Portuguese: enchente
Chinese: 洪水
Croatian: poplava
Czech: povodeň
Danish: oversvømmelse
Dutch: overstroming
European Spanish: inundación
Finnish: tulva
French: inondation
German: Flut
Greek: πλημμύρα
Italian: inondazione
Japanese: 洪水
Korean: 홍수
Norwegian: oversvømmelse
Polish: powódź
European Portuguese: cheia
Romanian: inundație
Russian: потоп
Latin American Spanish: inundación
Swedish: översvämning
Thai: น้ำท่วม
Turkish: sel
Ukrainian: повінь
Vietnamese: lũ lụt
British English: flood /flʌd/ VERB
river, pipe If something such as a river or a burst pipe floods an area that is usually dry, it becomes covered with water.
The river flooded the city's underground tunnel system.
American English: flood
Arabic: يُغْرِقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: inundar
Chinese: 淹没
Croatian: poplaviti
Czech: zaplavit
Danish: oversvømme
Dutch: overstromen
European Spanish: inundar
Finnish: tulvia
French: inonder
German: überschwemmen
Greek: πλημμυρίζω
Italian: inondare
Japanese: 氾濫させる
Korean: (...을) 범람시키다
Norwegian: oversvømme
Polish: zalać
European Portuguese: inundar
Romanian: a inunda
Russian: затоплять
Latin American Spanish: inundar
Swedish: översvämma
Thai: ท่วม
Turkish: su basmak
Ukrainian: затоплювати
Vietnamese: tràn ngập
British English: flood /flʌd/ VERB
area If an area that is usually dry floods, it becomes covered with water.
The kitchen flooded.
American English: flood
Arabic: يَفْيضُ
Brazilian Portuguese: extravasar
Chinese: 淹没
Croatian: poplaviti
Czech: rozvodnit se
Danish: blive oversvømmet
Dutch: onder water lopen
European Spanish: inundarse
Finnish: tulvia
French: inonder
German: überlaufen
Greek: πλημμυρίζω
Italian: allagarsi
Japanese: 氾濫する
Korean: 범람하다
Norwegian: oversvømme
Polish: zostać zalanym
European Portuguese: alagar
Romanian: a inunda
Russian: затопить
Latin American Spanish: desbordarse
Swedish: svämma över
Thai: ไหลบ่า ไหลล้น
Turkish: su baskınına uğramak
Ukrainian: затоплювати
Vietnamese: ngập
All related terms of 'flood'
flood out
If people, places, or things are flooded out , the water from a flood makes it impossible for people to stay in that place or to use that thing.
in flood
If a river is in flood , it is flowing over its banks because it has more water in it than normal .
the Flood
the flood extending over all the earth from which Noah and his family and livestock were saved in the ark . ( Genesis 7–8); the Deluge
flash flood
A flash flood is a sudden rush of water over dry land, usually caused by a lot of rain .
flood plain
A flood plain is a flat area on the edge of a river , where the ground consists of soil , sand , and rock left by the river when it floods.
flood tide
the tide when it has risen from low to high water
flood wall
a wall built along a shore or bank to prevent floods by giving a raised, uniform freeboard and by allowing unimpeded flow to water in a channel
flood barrier
A barrier is an object or layer that physically prevents something from moving from one place to another.
flood basalt
a very extensive lava flow of basaltic composition that has issued from a fissure , often to be found as part of a series of such flows one on top of another, forming a plateau
flood control
the technique or practice of preventing or controlling floods with dams , artificial channels , etc
flood damage
damage to property caused by floodwater
flood warning
A warning is something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger , problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen .
flood coverage
Flood coverage is insurance coverage for loss or damage caused by floods.
flood defences
structures such as dams , artificial channels , etc, built to protect an area from flooding
flood insurance
insurance covering loss or damage to property arising from a flood , flood tide , or the like
Deucalion's flood
a flood sent by Zeus that wiped out the entire population of the earth, except for Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha
flood protection
To give or be protection against something unpleasant means to prevent people or things from being harmed or damaged by it.
Chinese translation of 'flood'
flood
(flʌd)
n
(c/u)[of water]洪水 (hóngshuǐ) (次, cì)
(c)[of letters, requests, imports]大量 (dàliàng)
vt
(through forces of nature) 淹没(沒) (yānmò)
(intentionally) 浇(澆)灌 (jiāoguàn)
(Aut)[engine]使 ... 溢流 (shǐ ... yìliú)
vi
[place]为(為)水所淹 (wéi shuǐ suǒ yān)
[people, goods]
to flood into洪水般涌(湧)入 (hóngshuǐ bān yǒngrù)
to flood the market (Comm) 充斥市场(場) (chōngchì shìchǎng)
in flood泛(氾)滥(濫) (fànlàn)
1 (noun)
Definition
to supply excess petrol to (a petrol engine) so that it cannot work properly
This is the sort of flood dreaded by cavers.
Synonyms
deluge
A dozen homes were damaged in the deluge.
downpour
a sudden downpour of rain
flash flood
inundation
They moved furniture from houses threatened with imminent inundation.
tide
overflow
Carpeting is damaged from the overflow of water from a bathtub.
torrent
The rain came down in torrents.
spate
an incomprehensible spate of words
freshet
2 (noun)
Definition
a large amount of water
Each year brings a flood of new university graduates.
Synonyms
torrent
flow
watching the quiet flow of the olive-green water
rush
stream
tide
They used to sail with the tide.
abundance
multitude
glut
outpouring
profusion
a delightful river with a profusion of flowers growing along its banks
3 (noun)
Definition
a large amount
He received a flood of complaints.
Synonyms
series
stream
a never-ending stream of jokes
avalanche
He was greeted with an avalanche of publicity.
barrage
a barrage of angry questions from the floor
spate
the current spate of scandals
torrent
4 (noun)
Definition
a large amount
She broke into a flood of tears.
Synonyms
outpouring
The news of his death produced an instant outpouring of grief.
rush
A rush of affection swept over him.
stream
a continuous stream of lava
surge
The bridge was destroyed in a tidal surge during a storm.
torrent
A torrent of water rushed into the reservoir.
1 (verb)
Definition
to cover or become covered with water
The house was flooded.
Synonyms
immerse
The electrodes are immersed in liquid.
swamp
The river burst its banks, swamping a mobile home park.
submerge
The river burst its banks, submerging an entire village.
inundate
Their neighbourhood is being inundated by the rising waters.
deluge
Torrential rain deluged the capital.
drown
The country would be drowned in blood.
cover with water
2 (verb)
Definition
to fill to overflowing
Many streams have flooded their banks.
Synonyms
pour over
swamp
We swamp them with praise, make them think that they are important.
run over
Water ran over the sides and trickled down on to the floor.
overflow
The river has overflowed its banks in several places.
inundate
Her office was inundated with requests for tickets.
brim over
3 (verb)
Definition
to cover or become covered with water
Large numbers of tourists have flooded the city.
Synonyms
engulf
He was engulfed by a feeling of emptiness.
flow into
rush into
sweep into
overwhelm
The small Pacific island could be overwhelmed by rising sea levels.
surge into
swarm into
pour into
gush into
4 (verb)
Definition
to put a large number of goods on sale on (a market) at the same time, often at a cheap price
a policy aimed at flooding Europe with exports
Synonyms
saturate
Both sides are saturating the airwaves.
fill
The barn was filled with the smell of hay.
choke
swamp
glut
Soldiers returning from war had glutted the job market.
oversupply
overfill
5 (verb)
Definition
to flow or surge
Enquiries flooded in from all over the world.
Synonyms
stream
Tears streamed down their faces.
flow
A stream flowed down into the valley.
rush
Water rushes out of huge tunnels.
pour
Blood was pouring from his broken nose.
surge
The crowd surged out from the church.
related words
related adjectivesfluvialdiluvial
related phobiaantlophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avalanche
Definition
a sudden or overwhelming quantity of anything
He was greeted with an avalanche of publicity.
Synonyms
large amount,
barrage,
torrent,
deluge,
inundation
in the sense of barrage
Definition
a continuous delivery of questions, complaints, etc.