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spate — a sudden flood or large number of similar things appearing or happening in a short period

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a sudden flood or large number of similar things appearing or happening in a short period

Pronunciation (IPA): /speɪt/

Example Sentences

  • The celebrity couple's divorce triggered a spate of gossip magazine articles.
  • After the pizza discount was announced, there was a spate of students suddenly becoming 'best friends' with the pizza shop owner's daughter.
  • The rainy season brought a spate of umbrella thefts on campus.

spate

NOUN

[/speɪt/]

a sudden flood or large number of similar things appearing or happening in a short period

spate — a sudden flood or large number of similar things appearing or happening in a short period (concept illustration)
💡 Concept

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/speɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/speɪt/

🌳Etymology

Rootspate

Origin

From Middle English, originally meaning 'flood.' This word comes from Scottish and Northern English dialects where it described the sudden rising of river waters.

Breakdown

spate (whole word from Middle English, no clear morpheme breakdown - originally meant a sudden flood or rush of water)

🎵Rhyme

fate
gate
late
rate
date

🔗Collocations

a spate of attacks
recent spate
spate of violence
following a spate
spate of complaints

📝Examples

“The celebrity couple's divorce triggered a spate of gossip magazine articles.”

😄 Fun example

“After the pizza discount was announced, there was a spate of students suddenly becoming 'best friends' with the pizza shop owner's daughter.”

“The rainy season brought a spate of umbrella thefts on campus.”

😄 Fun example

“My grandmother experienced a spate of 'mysterious' phone hang-ups whenever I was supposed to call her.”

📚Related Words

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