Floodgate

Quick meaning: Floodgate is a noun meaning An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.

Meaning

An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice.

More Meanings

1. (figuratively, extension) Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion, etc.
2. (obsolete) A stream that passes through a floodgate; a torrent.

Example Sentences

“The floodgates for advertising on cable are down,” says Michael Dann, a leading consultant on cable television.

At the start of the Second World War floodgates would be installed at the ends of the under-Thames sections of the Bakerloo and Northern lines to save them from inundation should bombs damage the riverbed.

Out of her gored wound the cruell ſteel / He lightly ſnatcht, and did the floodgate ſtop / VVith his faire garment: then gan ſoftly feel her feeble pulſe, to proue if any drop / Of liuing blood yet in her veynes did hop

The accuſation conſiſting of thoſe three articles, was moſt true: your doctrine was ſcādalous, it offred much offence, being generally diſtaſted; and was erroneous, being detected to be the floodgate of Traitors ſtaiers, looſing in ſome ſuppoſititious doctrines, and many blaſphemous arrogating much to man, derogating much from God.

Word Forms

• floodgates

Synonyms for floodgate

Depending on context, synonyms include sluicegate, penstock.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include penstock, sluicegate, hatch, stanch, tailgate, floodwall.

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