Dictionary
1overflow
verb over·flow \ˌō-vər-ˈflō\
: to flow over the edge or top of (something)
: to fill or cover (something) completely
: to be completely filled with something : to be so filled that there is not enough room for anything or anyone more
Full Definition of OVERFLOW
transitive verb
1
: to cover with or as if with water : inundate
2
: to flow over the brim of
3
: to cause to overflow
intransitive verb
1
: to flow over bounds
2
: to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits <the crowd overflowed into the street>
See overflow defined for English-language learners
See overflow defined for kids
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First Known Use of OVERFLOW
before 12th century
Rhymes with OVERFLOW
acid snow, afterglow, aikido, alpenglow, apropos, art deco, art nouveau, audio, Baguio, Bamako, barrio, bay window, Bergamo, bibelot, Bilbao, black widow, blow-by-blow, body blow, bone marrow, bordereau, Borneo, bow window, buffalo, Buffalo, bungalow, Bushido, buteo, calico, cameo, cachalot, cembalo, centimo, CEO, chassepot, cheerio, Clemenceau, cogito, comedo, comme il faut, counterflow, Cupid's bow, curaçao, Curaçao, curassow, curio, daimyo, danio, Delano, Diderot, do-si-do, domino, dynamo, embryo, entrepôt, Erato, escargot, Eskimo, extrados, fabliau, folio, French window, fricandeau, furbelow, gigolo, golden glow, go-no-go, grass widow, guacharo, hammer throw, hammertoe, haricot, heel-and-toe, hetero, high and low, HMO, Holy Joe, horror show, Idaho, in a row, indigo, in escrow, in the know, Jericho, kakapo, latigo, little toe, long-ago, Longfellow, Maceió, Maginot, Manchukuo, medico, Mexico, mistletoe, modulo, Monaco, Navajo, NCO, nuncio, oleo, olio, on tiptoe, Oreo, overgrow, overthrow, ovolo, Pamlico, Papago, paseo, picaro, piccolo, Pierrot, polio, pomelo, pompano, portico, PPO, Prospero, proximo, quid pro quo, radio, raree-show, ratio, Richard Roe, Rochambeau, rococo, rodeo, Romeo, rose window, round window, saddlebow, Sapporo, sapsago, Scapa Flow, Scipio, Scorpio, semipro, show window, sloppy joe, so-and-so, SRO, standing O, status quo, stereo, stop-and-go, studio, subito, tallyho, tangelo, Taranto, tic-tac-toe, TKO, to-and-fro, Tokyo, tombolo, touch-and-go, tournedos, tremolo, tuckahoe, tupelo, UFO, ultimo, undergo, undertow, Veneto, vertigo, vibrio, video, virago, vireo, Zhangjiakou, zydeco
2overflow
noun over·flow \ˈō-vər-ˌflō\
: an act of flowing over the edge or top of something
: the amount of something that flows over the edge or top of something else
: the number of people or things that goes over a limit
Full Definition of OVERFLOW
1
: a flowing over : inundation
2
: something that flows over : surplus
3
: an outlet or receptacle for surplus liquid
See overflow defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of OVERFLOW
1568
OVERFLOWING Defined for Kids
1overflow
verb over·flow \ˌō-vər-ˈflō\
over·flowedover·flow·ing
Definition of OVERFLOW for Kids
1
: to flow over the top of <The river overflowed its banks.>
2
: to flow over bounds <The creek overflows every spring.>
3
: to fill or become filled beyond capacity <The basket was overflowing with candy.>
4
: to fill a space up and spread beyond its limits <The crowd overflowed into the street.>
2overflow
noun over·flow \ˈō-vər-ˌflō\
Definition of OVERFLOW for Kids
1
: a flowing over <Dams couldn't stop the overflow.>
2
: something that flows over or fills a space and spreads beyond its limits <Police tried to control the overflow of traffic.>
Medical Dictionary
overflow
noun over·flow \ˈō-vər-ˌflō\
Medical Definition of OVERFLOW
: an excessive flow or amount
Learn More About OVERFLOW
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