flood

Meaning

Noun

1. An overflow of a large amount of water (usually disastrous) from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water.
2. (figuratively) A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
3. The flowing in of the tide, opposed to the ebb.
4. A floodlight.
5. Menstrual discharge; menses.
6. (obsolete) Water as opposed to land.

Verb

1. To overflow, as by water from excessive rainfall.
2. To cover or partly fill as if by a flood.
3. (figuratively) To provide (someone or something) with a larger number or quantity of something than can easily be dealt with.
4. (Internet, ambitransitive) To paste numerous lines of text to (a chat system) in order to disrupt the conversation.
5. To bleed profusely, as after childbirth.

Synonyms

overflow

deluge

inundation

inundate

flow

high water

swamp

stream

submerge

alluvion

torrent

surge

freshet

overwhelm

spate

high tide

flood tide

fill

overflowing

rising tide

gush

cover

rush

engulf

pour

irrigate

water

🚰

avalanche

river

photoflood

outpouring

landslide

flow over

drown

flowing water

drench

flowage

floodwater

brim over

cataclysm

floodlight

flooding

flood lamp

spread

sea

🌊

shower

🚿

plenty

soak

tide

dump

Translations

inondation

inundación

inondazione

Flut

alluvione

inonder

Überschwemmung

inondare

inundar

inundação

overstroming

πλημμύρα

inundació

Hochwasser

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flʌd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: flod

Inherited from Old English: flōd

Cognate with Scots: flude

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Floud

Cognate with Dutch: vloed

Cognate with German: Flut

Cognate with Danish: flod

Cognate with Icelandic: flóð

Cognate with Gothic: 𐍆𐌻𐍉𐌳𐌿𐍃

In summary

From Middle English flod, from Old English flōd, from Proto-West Germanic *flōdu, from Proto-Germanic *flōduz, from *plew- (“to flow”). Cognate with Scots flude, fluid, Saterland Frisian Floud, Dutch vloed, German Flut, Danish flod, Icelandic flóð, and Gothic 𐍆𐌻𐍉𐌳𐌿𐍃 (flōdus).