spate
Americannoun
-
a sudden, almost overwhelming, outpouring.
a spate of angry words.
-
British.
-
a flood or inundation.
-
a river flooding its banks.
-
a sudden or heavy rainstorm.
-
noun
-
a fast flow, rush, or outpouring
a spate of words
-
a sudden flood
the rivers were in spate
-
a sudden heavy downpour
Etymology
Origin of spate
1400–50; late Middle English (north) < ?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a previous interview, Luna referred to the spate of death at the start of the year as a “kick in the groin.”
From Los Angeles Times
The book trend cover suggests collective angst about adulthood, highlighted by a cultural fixation on “girlhood” that sparked a spate of online think pieces in recent years.
From Los Angeles Times
A spate of fires and disasters has befallen the city's historic architecture over the years, raising questions about whether these are freak accidents or a symptom of wider issues.
From BBC
Any appearance on the network probably would have generated a spate of negative stories.
From Los Angeles Times
Often referred to as “living drugs,” they have driven a spate of acquisitions at larger companies.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
