1N-COUNT [usually singular]大批,一连串,一阵(尤指令人不快之物) A spate of things, especially unpleasant things, is a large number of them that happen or appear within a short period of time. 大批,一连串,一阵(尤指令人不快之物)
2PHRASE [verb-link PHRASE](河水)猛涨,泛滥 When a river is in spate it contains a lot more water than usual and is flowing very fast. (河水)猛涨,泛滥 [mainly British]
The Thames was in spate, with flocks of Canada geese speeding downriver.