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    spate

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    spate

    Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++spate /speɪt/ noun  1  spate of something LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNTa large number of similar things that happen in a short period of time, especially bad things 一连串[接二连三]的某事〔尤指不好的事情〕 a spate of burglaries 接连发生的入室盗窃案2. in spate DNSG British English a river, stream etc that is in spate is very full and flowing very fast 〔河水、溪水等〕猛涨，泛滥
    Examples from the Corpus
    spate• The poll results come amid a spate of bad news for tobacco companies.• If a statutory definition were to be promulgated, it would lead to confusion, and a spate of litigation.• These questions have been raised by leading palaeontologists and archaeologists in a spate of articles in newspapers and journals.• Homeowners have reported a spate of vandalism, break- ins, thefts, and other crimes that they attribute to illegal immigrants.• The current spate of reports on the schools criticizes parents for not involving themselves in the education of their children.• Some of these riverbank cave entrances are submerged when the river is in spate making their underground passages subject to sudden flooding.• Even model Naomi Campbell appeared at the last spate of runway shows in New York with a swinging dark-blond weave.• The generosity of the offer had surprised them all and had prompted a whole spate of spontaneous offers.    Origin spate (1400-1500) Perhaps from Old French espoit, from Dutch spuiten “to flow out strongly”
    spate nounChinese
    similar that number Corpus large of a things


    spate
    spate /speɪt/ noun
     Date: 1400-1500
     Origin: Perhaps from Old French espoit, from Dutch spuiten 'to flow out strongly'
    1. spate of something a large number of similar things that happen in a short period of time, especially bad things:
        a spate of burglaries
    2. in spate British English a river, stream etc that is in spate is very full and flowing very fast


    spateBrE /speɪt/ 🔊NAmE /speɪt/ 🔊 noun [usually singular] ~ of sth a large number of things, which are usually unpleasant, that happen suddenly within a short period of time 一连串，接二连三（通常指不愉快的事物）◆The bombing was the latest in a spate of terrorist attacks. 这次炸弹爆炸事件是一连串恐怖主义袭击中最近的一起。🔊🔊●in (full) ˈspate(especially BrE) (of a river 河流) containing more water and flowing more strongly than usual 暴涨；发洪水◆After heavy rain, the river was in spate. 大雨过后，河水暴涨。🔊🔊◆(figurative) Celia was in full spate (= completely involved in talking and not likely to stop or able to be interrupted). 西莉亚口若悬河，滔滔不绝。🔊🔊