early 15c., originally Scottish and northern English, "a sudden flood, especially one caused by heavy rains or a snowmelt," of unknown origin. Perhaps from Old French espoit "flood," from Dutch spuiten "to flow, spout;" related to spout (v.). Figurative sense of "unusual quantity" is attested from 1610s.
双语例句
1. The Thames was in spate, with flocks of Canada geese speeding downriver.
泰晤士河河水暴涨，成群的加拿大雁迅速游向下游。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The bombing was the latest in a spate of terrorist attacks.
这次的爆炸事件是近期一连串恐怖主义袭击中最新的一起。
来自《权威词典》
3. Doctors have suffered a loss of prestige following a spate of scandals.
接二连三的丑闻使医生名誉扫地.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. The river is in spate.
河水猛涨.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
5. The spate of storms and hurricanes in recent years could be a statistical quirk.