OVERFLOW Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

overflow

[ verb oh-ver-floh; noun oh-ver-floh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

overflowed, overflown, overflowing.

to flow or run over, as rivers or water:
After the thaw, the river overflows and causes great damage.
to have the contents flowing over or spilling, as an overfull container:
Stop pouring or your glass is going to overflow.
to pass from one place or part to another as if flowing from an overfull space:
The population overflowed into the adjoining territory.
to be filled or supplied with in great measure:
a heart overflowing with gratitude; a region overflowing with orchards and vineyards.

verb (used with object)

overflowed, overflown, overflowing.

to flow over; flood; inundate:
The river overflowed several farms.
to flow over or beyond (the brim, banks, borders, etc.).
to cause to overflow.
to flow over the edge or brim of (a receptacle, container, etc.).
to fill to the point of running over.

noun

an overflowing:
the annual overflow of the Nile.
something that flows or runs over:
to carry off the overflow from a fountain.
a portion crowded out of an overfilled place:
to house the overflow of the museum's collection in another building.
an excess or superabundance:
an overflow of applicants for the job.
Synonyms: , , , ,
an outlet or receptacle for excess liquid:
The tank is equipped with an overflow.

overflow

verb

to flow or run over (a limit, brim, bank, etc)
to fill or be filled beyond capacity so as to spill or run over
intrusually foll bywith to be filled with happiness, tears, etc
tr to spread or cover over; flood or inundate

noun

overflowing matter, esp liquid
any outlet that enables surplus liquid to be discharged or drained off, esp one just below the top of a tank or cistern
the amount by which a limit, capacity, etc, is exceeded
computing a condition that occurs when numeric operations produce results too large to store in the memory space assigned to it

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��v��·�ڱ��Ƿ�a·�� adjective
��v��·�ڱ��Ƿ�i�Բ�·�� adverb
�ܲ�o·��·�ڱ��Ƿ�i�Բ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of overflow¹

before 900; Middle English overflowen, Old English �Ǵڱ��ڱ�ō�ɲ��. See over-, flow

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

For Windermere that's set to mean nine wastewater treatment works, including two that were included in the campaigners' analysis being upgraded and a reduction in the number of overflows discharging into the lake.

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And at the final whistle Guardiola's FA Cup elation overflowed in front of City fans basking in the glorious sunshine.

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This has meant still more forced displacements of starving families, more bombed refugee camps and more hospitals overflowing with critically injured people and almost no supplies.

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Water companies collectively oversee more than 15,000 of these overflow sites and this was the first year where all sites were monitored, revealing for the first time the extent of spilling.

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More than a year ago, dozens of BlackSeries camping trailers began to appear on a vacant lot that partly serves as an overflow for a car dealership in the City of Industry.

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