spate
/speɪt/noun
1
- usu. in sing. a large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession大量; 大批; 一连串：
a spate of attacks on holidaymakers.
对度假者一连串的袭击。
2
- chiefly Brit. a sudden flood in a river, especially one caused by heavy rains or melting snow〈主英〉（尤指暴雨、融雪引发的河水）猛涨, 泛滥。
短语
in (full) spate
1
- (of a river) overflowing due to a sudden flood（河水）泛滥。
1.1
- figurative (of a person or action) at the height of activity〈喻〉（人, 活动）在全盛期, 在高潮：
work was in full spate.
工作正在全速进行。
词源
late Middle English （originally Scots and northern English in the sense 'flood, inundation'）： of unknown origin.