flood
A2Meanings
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1
noun
the occurrence of incoming water (between a low tide and the following high tide)
a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune -Shakespeare
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2
noun
an overwhelming number or amount
a flood of requests
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3
verb
cover with liquid, usually water
The swollen river flooded the village
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4
verb
become filled to overflowing
Our basement flooded during the heavy rains
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5
verb
supply with an excess of
flood the market with tennis shoes
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6
noun
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.
a covenant never to destroy the earth again by flood
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7
noun
A large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
a flood of complaints
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8
noun
The flowing in of the tide, opposed to the ebb.
There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Etymology
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).