verb (used without object), o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.
- 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), o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flown, o·ver·flow·ing.
- 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.
- an outlet or receptacle for excess liquid: The tank is equipped with an overflow.
verb (used with object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.
- to fly over (a specified area, territory, country, etc.): The plane lost its way and overflew foreign territory.
- to fly farther than or beyond; overshoot.
- to fly over or past instead of making a scheduled stop: to overfly Philadelphia because of bad weather.
verb (used without object), o·ver·flew, o·ver·flown, o·ver·fly·ing.
- to fly over a particular territory, country, etc.: The plane approached the border but never overflew.
verb (ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ) -flows or -flowing or -flowed or formerly -flown
- to flow or run over (a limit, brim, bank, etc)
- to fill or be filled beyond capacity so as to spill or run over
- (intr usually foll by with) to be filled with happiness, tears, etc
- (tr) to spread or cover over; flood or inundate
noun (ˈəʊvəˌfləʊ)
- 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
verb -flies, -flying, -flew or -flown
- (tr) to fly over (a territory) or past (a point)
v.Old English oferfleow “to flow across, flood, inundate,” also “to flow over (a brim or bank);” see over- + flow (v.). Related: Overflowed; overflowing. n.1580s, “act of overflowing,” from overflow (v.).