/ ˈdeljuːdʒ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a sudden very heavy fall of rain
SYN flood
2.
a large number of things that happen or arrive at the same time :
a deluge of calls / complaints / letters
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
deluge sb/sth (with sth) [ usually passive ] to send or give sb/sth a large number of things at the same time
SYN flood , inundate :
We have been deluged with applications for the job.
2.
[ often passive ] ( formal ) to flood a place with water :
The campsite was deluged by a flash flood.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , variant of diluve , from Latin diluvium , from diluere wash away.