spate

[speyt]

noun

1. a sudden, almost overwhelming, outpouring.

   a spate of angry words.

2. British.

   1. a flood or inundation.

   2. a river flooding its banks.

   3. a sudden or heavy rainstorm.

spate

/ speɪt /

noun

1. a fast flow, rush, or outpouring

   a spate of words

2. a sudden flood

   the rivers were in spate

3. a sudden heavy downpour

Word History and Origins

Origin of spate¹

1400–50; late Middle English (north) < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of spate¹

C15 (Northern and Scottish): of unknown origin

Example Sentences

In recent years we’ve seen a spate of book banning and repression in the classroom by right-wing school boards and politicians.

From Salon

She said the spate of firings was not surprising, given the current heated political rhetoric in the US.

From BBC

Secondary schools in two neighbouring towns in the Netherlands were told to shut on Friday because of a spate of violence involving two groups of young people.

From BBC

The killing — the latest incident in a spate of violent attacks targeting American politicians on the left and the right — led to swift condemnation of political violence from both sides of the ideological divide.

From Los Angeles Times

It comes amid a spate of high profile cyber-attacks, affecting firms including M&S and Jaguar Land Rover, in which teenage hackers have been implicated.

From BBC

Related Words

• deluge 
• flood 
• flurry 
• outpouring 
• string 
• succession 
• torrent 
• wave