deluge Hear it!

deluge Definition

del·uge (delyo̵̅o̅j′)

noun

  1. a great flood
  2. a heavy rainfall
  3. an overwhelming, floodlike rush of anything a deluge of visitors

Etymology: ME < OFr < L diluvium < dis, off, from + luere, var. of lavare, to lave

transitive verb -·uged′, -·ug′·ing

  1. to flood; inundate
  2. to overwhelm as with a flood

deluge Idioms

the Deluge

Bible the great flood in Noah's time: Gen. 7

deluge Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • expect: Not a huge response I'm afraid, but at such short notice I wasn't exactly expecting a deluge of entries.
  • receive: He received a deluge of post, most of it abusive.
  • see: The first week of April saw a deluge of product announcements timed to coincide with the JavaOne Today exhibition in San Francisco.
  • have: I'll have a deluge of orders - I know I want them all!

Converse of subject

  • follow: Rain plops are now falling, quickly followed by a deluge, all fresh clothes and dry shoes are soaked.

Adjective modifier

  • sudden: Flickr would also suffer from a sudden deluge of LOL!
  • daily: The majority of press releases go straight into the bin, or simply get lost among the daily deluge of press materials.
  • recent: With no sun and our recent deluge the flavor is disappointing but I am sure it will improve.
  • great: Our volume is so low that I don't think anyone will be overcome by the great deluge of mail here.

Modifies a noun

  • system: The system details are not yet confirmed but the suppression concept is expected to be zoned deluge systems with AFFF proportioning.

Noun used with modifier

  • data: A particle physics Grid for the UK GridPP is the UK's contribution to analyzing this data deluge.

Preposition: of

  • rain: The mourning goddess cried for months on end, her tears falling to the earth in a deluge of rain.
  • mail: Generally the deluge of junk mail has led to frenetic anti-spam software development.
  • water: Next moment the back door was burst inward, and a deluge of water met us.
  • letter: Wherever there is most pressure on the public services, a deluge of rote letters from MPs adds to the burden.
  • datum: The deluge of data that practices have acquired is overwhelming.
  • call: Bosses on standby for the 999 deluge AMBULANCE executives are preparing to join paramedics in responding to the deluge of emergency calls expected tonight.

Preposition: with

  • letter: If I am wrong I shall no doubt be deluged with letters pointing out the error.
  • request: Were you deluged with requests to reveal the plot of the naked god?
  • information: You will be deluged with more information than you really want.
deluge Quotes

Apre'  s nous le de¤  luge. After us the deluge.

—Pomfret,John

Browse dictionary entries near deluge

  1. deluded
  2. delude
  3. deltoid
  4. deltiology
  5. delta wing
  6. delta wave
  7. delta ray
  8. delta neutral spread
  9. delta modulation
  10. delta
  1. delusion
  2. delusive
  3. deluxe
  4. delve
  5. Dem
  6. demagnetize
  7. demagogic
  8. demagogue
  9. demagogy
  10. demand