Added 8 October 2026
flood
/flʌd/ noun
In Latin: dīluviēs, dīluvium, inundatio Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about flood at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- 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 large number or quantity of anything appearing more rapidly than can easily be dealt with.
a flood of complaints
- The flowing in of the tide, opposed to the ebb.
verb
-
To overflow, as by water from excessive rainfall.
People flooded into the streets in protest.
-
To cover or partly fill as if by a flood.
The floor was flooded with beer.
-
To provide (someone or something) with a larger number or quantity of something than can easily be dealt with.
The station's switchboard was flooded with listeners making complaints.
Origin
Inherited from Middle English flod, from Old English flōd, from Proto-West Germanic *flōdu, from Proto-Germanic *flōduz, from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₃(w)-. Cognate with Scots flude, fluid, Saterland Frisian Floud, Dutch vloed, German Flut, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish flod, Icelandic flóð, and Gothic 𐍆𐌻𐍉𐌳𐌿𐍃 (flōdus).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)