Spate: meaning, definitions and examples

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spate

[speɪt ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in weather

A spate is a sudden flood of water, often caused by heavy rain or melting snow. It can lead to rapid rises in river levels and pose a danger to nearby areas.

Synonyms

deluge, flood, inundation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
spate	Used when talking about a sudden and large number of events or things, usually negative. There was a spate of burglaries in the neighborhood last month. Recently, we've experienced a spate of bad weather.
flood	Used for literal or figurative overwhelming amounts of water or things. It can describe both natural disasters and large amounts of information or emotions. After the hurricane, the flood waters covered the entire area. She received a flood of emails after the announcement.
deluge	Used to describe a large, overwhelming amount of things or an actual, heavy downpour of rain. The company was hit by a deluge of complaints after the new product was launched. The town was deluged with rain, causing heavy flooding.
inundation	Primarily used in formal contexts to describe an overwhelming abundance of things, often in a figurative sense. The city faced an inundation of tourists during the festival season. The manager was not prepared for the inundation of paperwork that came with the new position.

Examples of usage

The village was flooded after a spate of heavy rain.
The river burst its banks due to the spate caused by the melting snow.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in speech

A spate can also refer to a sudden outpouring or rush of something, such as words or actions.

Synonyms

outburst, rush, surge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
spate	Describes a frequent or large number of events happening one after the other within a short time. Can often imply something negative, like accidents or problems. There has been a spate of vandalism in the area.
outburst	Used for a sudden release of strong emotion, often anger or frustration. Typically describes an emotional reaction that is intense and might be unexpected. She had an outburst of anger when she found out about the mistake. His sudden outburst surprised everyone at the meeting.
surge	Refers to a sudden and powerful forward or upward movement. Often used to describe a rapid increase in number or intensity, such as waves, crowds, emotions, or data. There was a surge in electricity demand during the heatwave. The crowd surged forward when the gates opened.
rush	Describes a situation where people or things are moving quickly, or when there is a high demand for something within a short period. Can also refer to a hurried act. There was a rush to buy tickets for the concert when they went on sale. He completed his homework in a rush because he was running late.

Examples of usage

She went on a spate of angry outbursts during the meeting.
There has been a spate of new developments in the field of technology.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'spate' comes from the Scottish dialect, where it originally referred to a sudden flood.
It was first recorded in the English language in the early 19th century, likely influenced by the word 'spate' used in Scotland.
In some contexts, 'spate' can denote a rapid increase or outpouring, linking back to its roots in flooding.

Nature

Spate flows commonly occur after heavy rainfalls, where rivers can swell rapidly and cause floods.
The term is often used in hydrology to describe brief episodes of high river discharge, which can lead to natural disasters.
In some regions, controlled flooding is managed to prevent spates from causing damage, illustrating human impact on nature.

Literature

In literature, 'spate' is often used metaphorically to describe an outpouring of emotions or events, as seen in poetry and prose.
Many poets use the imagery of floods and spates to convey overwhelming feelings or experiences.
For instance, an author might describe a character's tears during a sad moment as a spate, emphasizing the intensity of the emotion.

Psychology

The term can describe sudden emotional spikes, such as a 'spate of anger' or 'spate of sadness,' illustrating rapid changes in mood.
Understanding the concept of spates in emotions can help in therapeutic contexts, identifying triggers for sudden emotional responses.
Mental health practitioners may refer to spates of anxiety that arise unexpectedly in certain situations, highlighting the unpredictability of emotions.

Pop Culture

The term 'spate' is sometimes used in current media to describe rapid trends, such as a 'spate of reality TV shows' that emerge at once.
In news articles, a 'spate of crimes' might describe an unusual rise in criminal activity over a short period, showcasing social concern.
TV shows and movies sometimes depict a 'spate' of dramatic events happening in succession, drawing the audience's attention to chaos and urgency.

Translations

Translations of the word "spate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 onda

🇮🇳 लहर

🇩🇪 Welle

🇮🇩 gelombang

🇺🇦 хвиля

🇵🇱 fala

🇯🇵 波

🇫🇷 vague

🇪🇸 ola

🇹🇷 dalga

🇰🇷 물결

🇸🇦 موجة

🇨🇿 vlna

🇸🇰 vlna

🇨🇳 波浪

🇸🇮 val

🇮🇸 alda

🇰🇿 толқын

🇬🇪 ტალღა

🇦🇿 dalğa

🇲🇽 ola

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,130, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
23127 girlish
23128 undemocratic
23129 disarming
23130 spate
23131 aviator
23132 monogram
23133 unwashed
...