- overflow
- overflows, overflowing, overflowed1) VERB: no passive If a liquid or a river overflows, it flows over the edges of the container or place it is in.
Pour in some of the syrup, but not all of it, as it will probably overflow...
[V n] Rivers and streams have overflowed their banks in countless places.
2) VERB: usu cont If a place or container is overflowing with people or things, it is too full of them.[V with n] The great hall was overflowing with people...
Jails and temporary detention camps are overflowing...
[V-ing] He emptied a few overflowing ashtrays.
3) VERB If someone is overflowing with a feeling or if the feeling overflows, the person is experiencing it very strongly and shows this in their behaviour.[V with n] Kenneth overflowed with friendliness and hospitality...
Ridley's anger finally overflowed.
4) N-COUNT: usu the N in sing The overflow is the extra people or things that something cannot contain or deal with because it is not large enough.Tents have been set up next to hospitals to handle the overflow...
The loch's overflow cascades into the waterfalls of a Japanese water garden.
5) N-COUNT An overflow is a hole or pipe through which liquid can flow out of a container when it gets too full....the overflow pipe.
6) PHRASE: adj PHR, PHR after v If a place or container is filled to overflowing, it is so full of people or things that no more can fit in.The kitchen garden was full to overflowing with fresh vegetables...
He was one of the few teachers who always filled the lecture room to overflowing.
English dictionary. 2008.
