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

Political watchers have speculated that Beutner’s entrée could potentially open the floodgates by offering a permission structure for others to challenge the mayor of the nation’s second-largest city.

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Former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie added that now Thompson has scored, she imagines the "floodgates will open".

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Los Angeles Councilwoman Traci Park said in a letter to constituents last month that SB79 “opens the floodgates to developers, displacement and gentrification.”

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It also opened the floodgates for the Phillies’ previous dormant offense.

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After that, the floodgates opened, and critics, celebrities, filmmakers, tastemakers, brand sponsors and the general public all flocked to Park City to celebrate the new wave of independent cinema.

Read more on Salon