spate
C1Formal / Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A large number of similar unwelcome things happening in a short period of time.
A sudden, heavy outpouring or flood, especially of water in a river after heavy rain or from melting snow.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used for negative or overwhelming series of events. The flood sense is literal and less common in general usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal 'river flood' sense is more common in British English. The figurative sense is used in both, but overall frequency is higher in British English.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of suddenness, intensity, and being overwhelming or uncontrollable.
Frequency
More commonly used in British English news and formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[a/the] + spate + of + NP (plural/unwelcome event)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In spate (of a river): flowing strongly and at a high level.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company's share price fell following a spate of negative analyst reports.
Academic
The 1990s saw a spate of publications re-examining post-colonial theory.
Everyday
There's been a spate of car break-ins on our street lately.
Technical
The river is in spate, with levels expected to peak overnight.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The town was cut off after the river was in spate.
- There has been a spate of thefts from cars.
- The recent spate of storms has caused widespread damage to infrastructure.
- Police are concerned about a spate of arson attacks in the industrial estate.
- The minister resigned amidst a spate of allegations concerning misuse of public funds.
- The publishing house has released a spate of biographies to capitalize on the renewed interest in the era.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SPATE' as a 'SPEedy fATE' – a speedy, sudden, and often bad series of events happening all at once.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNWANTED EVENTS ARE A FLOOD / A DELUGE (e.g., a spate of criticism, a flood of complaints).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'спать' (to sleep).
- Do not translate as 'скорость' (speed).
- The core idea is an 'influx' or 'wave' (наплыв, волна) of events, not just a 'series' (серия).
Common Mistakes
- Using for positive events (e.g., 'a spate of promotions' – awkward).
- Omitting 'of' (e.g., 'a spate incidents').
- Confusing spelling with 'spade' or 'state'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'spate' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very rare and generally awkward. 'Spate' strongly collocates with negative or unwelcome events (e.g., crimes, accidents, resignations). For positive series, words like 'series', 'succession', or 'flurry' are better.
'Series' is neutral and can be planned or unplanned. 'Spate' implies an unplanned, sudden, and overwhelming (usually negative) succession of events.
Primarily, yes. 'In spate' is a fixed phrase meaning a river is flowing fast and high, typically after heavy rain. It is more common in British English.
It is common in formal writing and journalism. In everyday conversation, people might use simpler terms like 'a lot of [bad things] happening at once' or 'a wave of...'.
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