overflow
UK: /ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ/ | US: /ˌoʊvərˈfloʊ/
v. to flow over the limits of a container or boundary
v. to exceed capacity or normal limits
n. an instance of overflowing; excess beyond capacity
overflow = over<above, beyond> + flow<move continuously>
- over: From Old English ofer, meaning "above, beyond, across."
- flow: From Old English flōwan, meaning "to move smoothly or continuously."
Etymology Origin:
The word overflow combines over (suggesting excess or surpassing) with flow (movement of liquid or continuous motion). It originated in Old English as oferflōwan, literally "to flow over," reflecting the physical act of liquid spilling beyond its container. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to describe exceeding limits in non-physical contexts (e.g., emotions, data).
The river overflowed its banks after heavy rainfall.
Her heart overflowed with joy when she saw the surprise.
The stadium’s capacity was exceeded, causing an overflow crowd outside.
The program crashed due to a buffer overflow error.
Tears overflowed as she listened to the touching speech.