Flood

Definition

Flood is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. As a verb, it means to inundate an area with water or to overwhelm someone or something in large quantities.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /flʌd/
• Respelling: FLUD

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /flʌd/
• Respelling: FLUD

Etymology

The word "flood" originates from the Old English "flod," meaning "flowing water or deluge," derived from Proto-Germanic "*flodaz" and Proto-Indo-European "*pleu-," meaning "to flow." It has retained its association with water and overwhelming quantities throughout its history.

Derivatives

• Flooded (verb/adjective)
• Flooding (noun/verb)
• Floodplain (noun)
• Floodgate (noun)
• Floodlight (noun/verb)

Synonyms

• Inundation
• Overflow
• Deluge

Antonyms

• Drought
• Scarcity
• None

Usage

The noun "flood" is commonly used to describe natural disasters involving water, e.g., "The flood caused extensive damage to the town." The verb form describes overwhelming with water or quantities, e.g., "Heavy rains flooded the streets," or "She was flooded with messages after the announcement."

Related Terms

• Inundation: An overwhelming amount of water or something else.
• Overflow: The act of flowing over a boundary.
• Dam: A barrier constructed to control or hold back water.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• An overflow of water submerging land: Refers to a natural disaster where water inundates normally dry areas.
  • Example: "The river burst its banks, causing a severe flood."
• An overwhelming quantity of something: Describes an abundance or deluge of non-water items or events.
  • Example: "A flood of emails filled her inbox."

Verb

• To inundate an area with water: Refers to covering land with water due to overflowing rivers, rain, or other sources.
  • Example: "The heavy rainfall flooded the village."
• To overwhelm someone or something with large quantities: Indicates overwhelming abundance or excess.
  • Example: "The market was flooded with counterfeit goods."