floodgate
An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluiceAn adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.
» This discovery opened up the floodgates to research and led to the establishment of the discipline as a legitimate field of inquiry.
Meaning
3 sensesAn adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.
Schieber, Schleusentor, Schleuse
regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluice
(figuratively)Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion, etc.
Tür und Tor
(obsolete)A stream that passes through a floodgate; a torrent.
Examples
2 sentencesThis discovery opened up the floodgates to research and led to the establishment of the discipline as a legitimate field of inquiry.
The fountains also of the deep, and the floodgates of heaven, were shut up, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English flodegate, flodgate, flodeyate, floodȝate, flodȝete, equivalent to floFrom Middle English flodegate, flodgate, flodeyate, floodȝate, flodȝete, equivalent to flood + gate.
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Forms
plural: floodgates| Singular | floodgate |
|---|---|
| Plural | floodgates |
regular
Synonyms
5 synonyms- regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluice:sluicegatesluice valvepenstockhead gatewater gate