I. ˈfləd noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English flōd; akin to Old High German fluot flood, Old English flōwan to flow
Date: before 12th century
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
II. verb
Date: 1663
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