Collins English-English Dictionary

flood [fl^d]

1. 1. n the inundation of land that is normally dry through the overflowing of a body of water, esp a river

2. 2. n the state of a river that is at an abnormally high level (esp in the phrase in flood)

3. 3. n a great outpouring or flow

   a flood of words

4. 4. n the rising of the tide from low to high water

5. 5. n (as modifier) - Compare ebb

   the flood tide

6. 6. n short for floodlight

7. 7. n [theatre] [archaic] a large body of water, as the sea or a river

8. 8. vb (of water) to inundate or submerge (land) or (of land) to be inundated or submerged

9. 9. vb to fill or be filled to overflowing, as with a flood

   the children's home was flooded with gifts

10. 10. vi. [intr] to flow; surge

    relief flooded through him

11. 11. vi. to supply an excessive quantity of petrol to (a carburettor or petrol engine) or (of a carburettor, etc) to be supplied with such an excess

12. 12. vi. [intr] to rise to a flood; overflow

13. 13. vi. [intr] to bleed profusely from the uterus, as following childbirth

14. 14. vi. to have an abnormally heavy flow of blood during a menstrual period

15. 15. vi. [Etymology] Old English flod; related to Old Norse floth, Gothic flodus, Old High German fluot flood, Greek plotos navigable; see flow, float