/ flʌd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
WATER
1.
[ C , U ] a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry :
The heavy rain has caused floods in many parts of the country.
flood damage
Police have issued flood warnings for Nevada.
The river is in flood (= has more water in it than normal and has caused a flood) .
—see also flash flood
LARGE NUMBER
2.
[ C ] flood (of sth) a very large number of things or people that appear at the same time :
a flood of complaints
a flood of refugees
The child was in floods of tears (= crying a lot) .
IN BIBLE
3.
the Flood [ sing. ] the great flood that covered the world in the Bible story :
before the Flood (= a very long time ago)
■ verb
FILL WITH WATER
1.
if a place floods or sth floods it, it becomes filled or covered with water :
[ v ]
The cellar floods whenever it rains heavily.
[ vn ]
If the pipe bursts it could flood the whole house.
OF RIVER
2.
to become so full that it spreads out onto the land around it :
[ v ]
When the Ganges floods, it causes considerable damage.
[ vn ]
The river flooded the valley.
LARGE NUMBERS
3.
[ v ] flood in / into / out of sth to arrive or go somewhere in large numbers
SYN pour :
Refugees continue to flood into neighbouring countries.
Telephone calls came flooding in from all over the country.
4.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] flood sb/sth with sth to send sth somewhere in large numbers :
The office was flooded with applications for the job.
5.
[ vn ] flood sth (with sth) to become or make sth become available in a place in large numbers :
Cheap imported goods are flooding the market .
A man who planned to flood Britain with cocaine was jailed for 15 years.
OF FEELING / THOUGHT
6.
to affect sb suddenly and strongly :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
A great sense of relief flooded over him.
Memories of her childhood came flooding back .
[ vn ]
The words flooded him with self-pity.
OF LIGHT / COLOUR
7.
to spread suddenly into sth; to cover sth :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
She drew the curtains and the sunlight flooded in.
[ vn ]
She looked away as the colour flooded her cheeks.
The room was flooded with evening light.
ENGINE
8.
[ v , vn ] if an engine floods or if you flood it, it becomes so full of petrol / gas that it will not start
► flood·ed adjective :
flooded fields
► flood·ing noun [ U ]:
There will be heavy rain with flooding in some areas.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- flood sb out
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English flōd , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vloed and German Flut , also to flow .