Wa|ter|gate

water gate,

1. a gate or gateway through which water passes.

2. a gate that controls the flow of water; sluice or floodgate.

3. a gate (as of a town or a castle) opening on water.

Wa|ter|gate «WT uhr _GAYT, WOT-», noun.

1. a major political scandal involving illegal activities directed against political opponents of President Richard Nixon and subsequent attempts to cover up these activities.

2. any similar misuse of the power of public office to discredit political opponents or for private gain.

3. any widespread public scandal: »

The incident…is being referred to in the scientific community as “a medical Watergate” (New York Times).

╂[< the Watergate, an apartment-house and office-building complex in Washington, D.C., where men connected with the Republican Committee for the Reelection of the President were arrested burglarizing Democratic National Committee headquarters]