spate
IPA: spˈeɪt
noun
- (countable) A (sudden) flood or inundation of water; specifically, a flood in or overflow of a river or other watercourse due to heavy rain or melting snow; (uncountable, archaic) flooding, inundation.
- (countable) A sudden heavy downpour of rain.
- (countable, figurative) A sudden increase or rush of something; a flood, an outburst, an outpouring.
verb
- (transitive) To (suddenly) flood or inundate (a river or other watercourse) with water.
- (intransitive) To (suddenly) rain heavily; to pour.
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Examples of "spate" in Sentences
- To sit immediately below Fidel in full spate is an extraordinary experience.
- The usual six o'clock home-going stream was in spate with Christmas crowds, and Oxford Street was a solid jam.
- He called a spate a spate in the most creative and artistic way possible and, at least I, never disgreed with him.
- I don't say that Obama has no support out there, but I recall a spate of stories to the effect that she was mopping up most of the support there after his early surge in the area ...
- But one group of Boston brokers also has detected what they call a spate of "rent engineering" -- a tactic of getting the highest possible face rent by giving the tenant favorable terms on other aspects of the leases.
- Here the first need is for the control for flood protection of the waters which come down in sudden spate from the glaciers and snowclad slopes of the Rockies under the effect of the strengthening sun of spring and early summer.
- Calling the spate of initiatives "not terribly substantial," Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner R., Ohio said "this reversal is striking since his administration has consistently blocked American-made energy."
- The longer-term spate of quakes, starting with the magnitude-9. 3 Indian Ocean event in 2004 that triggered a devastating tsunami, follows a roughly 50-year cycle of earthquake activity, says geophysicist and USGS director Marcia McNutt.
- "We're seeing the beginnings of that through these multiple suicide bombers trying to create a sensational attack that has far-reaching impact," Rodriguez said, referring to a spate of recent bombings targeting hotels, banks and supermarkets.
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