| a sudden and destructive rush of water down a narrow gully or over a sloping surface, caused by heavy rainfall. |
| flash flood also flash·flood (flāsh'flŭd') n. A sudden flood of great volume, usually caused by a heavy rain. |
flash flood  (flāsh) Pronunciation Key
A sudden, localized flood of great volume and short duration, typically caused by unusually heavy rain in a semiarid area. Flash floods can reach their peak volume in a matter of a few minutes and often carry large loads of mud and rock fragments. |
