See Also: spate(dictionary)
spate(dictionary)

spate (iou)



spate noun & verb. Orig. Scot. & north. LME.
[Origin unkn.]
A. noun.
A flood, an inundation; esp. a sudden flood in a river or stream caused by heavy rains or melting snow. LME.
H. Belloc A..spate roaring a furlong broad after the rains.
b. A sudden heavy downpour or storm of rain. Chiefly Scot. E18.
Flooding, inundation of water; copious rain. E16.
b. Turbulent water characteristic of a river in flood. rare. L19.
A sudden or violent outburst of some quality, feeling, etc.; a large series or sudden excessive amount of words, events, etc. E17.
Japan Times The original plan had drawn a spate of criticism. Daily Telegraph After a spate of development in the 1980s, the county council wants to restrict it.
Phrases: in spate (of a river) in flood.
b. verb. Scot.
verb trans. Flood, swell. E19.
verb intrans. Rain heavily. M19.