overflow

I UK [ˌəʊvə(r)ˈfləʊ] / US [ˌoʊvərˈfloʊ] verb [intransitive/transitive]
Word forms "overflow":
present tense I/you/we/they overflow he/she/it overflows present participle overflowing past tense overflowed past participle overflowed

1)

a) to flow over the top of a container because it is too full

The bath's overflowing!

overflow with:

ashtrays overflowing with cigarette ends

b) if a river or lake overflows, it floods the land next to it

The river has overflowed its banks.

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

The crowd began to overflow the hall.

overflow with:

hospitals overflowing with victims of the earthquake

3) to feel an emotion very strongly

overflow with:

Her heart was overflowing with joy.

II UK [ˈəʊvə(r)ˌfləʊ] / US [ˈoʊvərˌfloʊ] noun [countable]
Word forms "overflow":
singular overflow plural overflows

1)

a) an extra amount of people or things that do not fit into a particular space

Will this room be big enough to accommodate the overflow?

b) something that provides extra space when another space becomes full

an overflow car park

2) a hole or pipe that allows a substance to flow out of a container when it gets too full