n. & v.
--n.
1. a an overflowing or influx of water beyond its normal confines, esp. over land; an inundation. b the water that overflows.
2 a an outpouring of water; a torrent (a flood of rain). b something resembling a torrent (a flood of tears; a flood of relief).
3 the inflow of the tide (also in comb. : flood-tide).
4 colloq. a floodlight.
5 (the Flood) the flood described in Genesis.
6 poet. a river; a stream; a sea.
--v.
1. tr. a cover with or overflow in a flood (rain flooded the cellar). b overflow as if with a flood (the market was flooded with foreign goods).
2 tr. irrigate (flooded the paddy fields).
3 tr. deluge (a burning house, a mine, etc.) with water.
4 intr. (often foll. by in, through) arrive in great quantities (complaints flooded in; fear flooded through them).
5 intr. become inundated (the bathroom flooded).
6 tr. overfill (a carburettor) with petrol.
7 intr. experience a uterine haemorrhage.
8 tr. (of rain etc.) fill (a river) to overflowing.
Phrases and idioms:
flood and field sea and land. flood out drive out (of one's home etc.) with a flood. flood-tide the periodical exceptional rise of the tide because of lunar or solar attraction.
Etymology: OE flod f. Gmc