spate

Universal Words noun [usuallysing.] ~ of sth a large number of things, which are usually unpleasant, that happen suddenly within a short period of time: The bombing was the latest in a spate of terrorist attacks. * a recent spate of killings / thefts IDIOMS in (full) spate (especially BrE) (of a river) containing more water and flowing more strongly than usual: After heavy rain, the river was in spate. * (figurative) Celia was in full spate (= completely involved in talking and not likely to stop or able to be interrupted).