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floodgate

Pronunciation: /ˈflʌdˌɡeɪt/

The English word “floodgate” has 3 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.
  2. Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion, etc.
  3. A stream that passes through a floodgate; a torrent.

Etymology

From Middle English flodegate, flodgate, flodeyate, floodȝate, flodȝete, equivalent to flood + gate.

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