UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: flood, deluge

Semantic entry: 14.34

Semantic domains: Physical Events and States

Subdomains: Events Involving Liquids and Dry Masses

Definition: a large flood with destructive force (more intense and extensive than πλήμμυρα ‘flood,’ 14.33: πλήμμυρα)

Notes: In the NT κατακλύζω and κατακλυσμός occur only in 2 Peter and are used exclusively of the catastrophic flood in the time of Noah. Such a flood may be spoken of as ‘a flood that destroys’ or ‘much water which destroys.’