Meaning of spate in English

1. Pronunciation

   /speɪt/

   US accent

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   UK accent

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1. Noun

   spate

   Etymology

   late Middle English (originally Scots and northern English in the sense ‘flood, inundation’): of unknown origin

   Definitions

   1. (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent

   Examples

   • « a batch of letters »
   • « a deal of trouble »
   • « a lot of money »
   • « he made a mint on the stock market »
   • « it must have cost plenty »
2. 2. a sudden forceful flow
3. 3. the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow