SPATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spate mean? 

• SPATE (noun)
  The noun SPATE has 3 senses:

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

2. a sudden forceful flow

3. the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow

  Familiarity information: SPATE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPATE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

batch; deal; flock; good deal; great deal; hatful; heap; lot; mass; mess; mickle; mint; mountain; muckle; passel; peck; pile; plenty; pot; quite a little; raft; sight; slew; spate; stack; tidy sum; wad

Context example:

a wad of money

Hypernyms ("spate" is a kind of...):

large indefinite amount; large indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is above the average in size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spate"):

deluge; flood; inundation; torrent (an overwhelming number or amount)

haymow (a mass of hay piled up in a barn for preservation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sudden forceful flow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

rush; spate; surge; upsurge

Hypernyms ("spate" is a kind of...):

flow; flowing (the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spate"):

debris storm; debris surge (the sudden spread of dust and debris from a collapsing building)

onrush (a forceful forward rush or flow)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

freshet; spate

Hypernyms ("spate" is a kind of...):

flow; flowing (the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases))