flood

Pronunciation: /flʌd/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
  2. noun an overwhelming number or amount
  3. noun light that is a source of artificial illumination having a broad beam; used in photography

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).

In classic literature

Synonyms

inundation, deluge, alluvion

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
geological phenomenon
Narrower (hyponyms)
noah's flood, debacle, flash flood

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