noun
- a sudden large number or amount of something
- a sudden flood in a river caused by heavy rain or melting snow
Usage: chiefly British
Examples
- There has been a spate of burglaries in the neighborhood recently.
- The company faced a spate of complaints after the product recall.
- A spate of new restaurants opened downtown this year.
- The recent spate of accidents has prompted safety concerns.
- Heavy rains caused the river to be in spate.
- The bridge was damaged when the stream was in spate.
- After the snowmelt, the creek ran in full spate.