Flōod1, n.
(flōd), n. [A-S. & O. Sax. flōd, Sw. flod, Dan. flod, floed, Icel. flod, fliót, O. H. Ger. fluot, N. H. Ger. flut, M. H. Ger. ülat, D. vloed, Goth. flodus, from Goth. as if flutan, O. H. Ger. fliuzan. See FLOAT, v. i.]
Sense 1. A great flow of water; a body of moving water; the flowing stream, as of a river; especially, a body of water, rising, swelling, and overflowing land not usually thus covered; a deluge; a freshet; an inundation.
A covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood. Milton.
Sense 2. The flowing in of the tide; the semi-diurnal swell or rise of water in the ocean; — opposed to ebb; as, young flood; high flood.
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Shak.
Sense 3. A great quantity; an inundation; an overflowing; abundance; superabundance; as, a flood of bank notes; a flood of paper currency.
Sense 4. A great body or stream of any fluid substance; as, a flood of light; a flood of lava; hence, a flood of vice.
Sense 5. Menstrual discharge; menses. Harvey.
The flood, the deluge in the days of Noah.