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desbordar

to overflow

verb dehs-bohr-DAHR Rare
Travel & Places Geography

Also means

to overwhelm

Usage Note

Desbordar literally means to overflow or spill over a border (el río desbordó sus orillas = the river burst its banks). Figuratively it means to overwhelm or exceed capacity (la alegría me desbordó = joy overwhelmed me). The reflexive desbordarse emphasizes the uncontrolled aspect. The related noun is desbordamiento (overflow, overflowing).

Examples

"El río desbordó por las fuertes lluvias."

Natural Translation

The river overflowed due to the heavy rain.

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