floodgate

[fluhd-geyt]

noun

1. Civil Engineering.,  a gate designed to regulate the flow of water.

2. anything serving to control the indiscriminate flow or passage of something.

floodgate

/ ˈflʌdˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. Also called: head gate.  water gate. a gate in a sluice that is used to control the flow of water See also sluicegate

2. (often plural) a control or barrier against an outpouring or flow

   to open the floodgates to immigration

Word History and Origins

Origin of floodgate¹

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; flood, gate ¹

Example Sentences

His shift opened the floodgates for an overwhelming 427-1 vote on Tuesday.

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Fear of opening up the floodgate that is my grief.

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Even as ordinary citizens fled to safety, emergency workers raced for the floodgates.

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If that was meant to open the floodgates, Ireland were sorely mistaken as Japan controlled the rest of the half.

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An early trauma opens emotional floodgates, even when you’re too young to understand it.

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