overflow

o|ver|flow¹ [ˌəuvəˈfləu US ˌouvərˈflou] v [I and T]

1.) if a river, lake, or container overflows, it is so full that the liquid or material inside flows over its edges

▪ The drains flooded and water overflowed down the main street.

▪ The river had overflowed its banks.

overflow with

▪ wastebins overflowing with plastic cups

2.) to have a lot of something

overflow with

▪ The garden overflows with colour.

▪ He was overflowing with good ideas.

3.) if a place overflows with people or people overflow into a place, there are too many of them to fit into it

overflow with

▪ Hospitals were reported to be overflowing with dead and wounded.

overflow into

▪ The house was full and people were overflowing into the street.

4.) to have a very strong feeling

overflow with

▪ My heart was overflowing with gratitude.

5.) be filled to overflowing (with sth)

to be completely full

▪ One wall was filled to overflowing with books.

overflow ²

o|ver|flow² [ˈəuvəfləu US ˈouvərflou] n

1.) [singular]

the amount of something or the number of people that cannot be contained in a place because it is already full

▪ The overflow will be accommodated in another hotel.

overflow of

▪ the overflow of water from the lake

2.)

a pipe through which water flows out of a container when it becomes too full