verb / noun
overflow
oh-ver-FLOH/ˌəʊvərˈfləʊ/
Spreading beyond the amount a container or system can hold.
Water overflows the cup and spills across its rim.
Etymology
Over- gives flowing a path across a boundary: the Old English compound could describe water crossing a brim or bank, the same image as spilling from something too full.
In context
as you continuously add stock the rice will double in size and if your pot is too small it could overflow
More examples
- A tray under the plant pot catches any overflow.
- The shelter opens another building to handle the overflow.
- The program reports an overflow when a number exceeds the allowed range.
Forms
overflow · overflows · overflowed · overflowing