flood

Universal Words noun, verb noun water 1 [C,U] a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry: The heavy rain has caused floods in many parts of the country. * flood water / damage * Police have issued flood warnings for Nevada. * an appeal to help flood victims * the Thames flood barrier * The river is in flood (= has more water in it than normal and has caused a flood). seealsoFLASHFLOOD large number 2 [C] ~ (of sth) a very large number of things or people that appear at the same time: a flood of complaints * a flood of refugees * The child was in floods of tears (= crying a lot). in bible 3 (the Flood) [sing.] the great flood that covered the world in the Bible story: before the Flood (= a very long time ago) verb fill with water 1 if a place floods or sth floods it, it becomes filled or covered with water: [V] The cellar floods whenever it rains heavily. * [VN] If the pipe bursts it could flood the whole house. of river 2 to become so full that it spreads out onto the land around it: [V] When the Ganges floods, it causes considerable damage. * [VN] The river flooded the valley. large numbers 3 [V] ~ in / into / out of sth to arrive or go somewhere in large numbers: Refugees continue to flood into neighbouring countries. * Telephone calls came flooding in from all over the country. 4 [VN] [usuallypassive] ~ sb/sth with sth to send sth somewhere in large numbers: The office was flooded with applications for the job. * We've been flooded with complaints. 5 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to become or make sth become available in a place in large numbers: Cheap imported goods are flooding the market. * A man who planned to flood Britain with cocaine was jailed for 15 years. of feeling / thought 6 to affect sb suddenly and strongly: [V, +adv./prep.] A great sense of relief flooded over him. * Memories of her childhood came flooding back. * [VN] The words flooded him with self-pity. of light / colour 7 to spread suddenly into sth; to cover sth: [V, +adv./prep.] She drew the curtains and the sunlight flooded in. * [VN] She looked away as the colour flooded her cheeks. * The room was flooded with evening light. engine 8 [V, VN] if an engine floods or if you flood it, it becomes so full of petrol/gas that it will not start flooded adjective: flooded fields flooding noun [U]: There will be heavy rain with flooding in some areas. PHRASALVERBS flood sb<->out [usuallypassive] to force sb to leave their home because of a flood