in spate

in spate

(of a river) in a swollen, fast-flowing condition

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Main Entry: ↑spate

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in spate phrase

if a river is in spate, it is much deeper than usual and the water in it is moving very fast, for example after snow melts in the spring

Thesaurus: words used to describe areas of water_hyponym

Main entry: spate

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in (full) spate

(of a river) overflowing due to a sudden flood

■ figurative (of a person or action) at the height of activity

work was in full spate

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in spate

chiefly Brit of a river, stream, etc. : very full : filled with water flowing very fast

The river was in spate due to heavy rains.

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Main Entry: ↑spate