spate
n 1: (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent:
"a batch of letters"; "a deal of trouble"; "a lot of
money"; "it must have cost plenty" [syn: {batch}, {deal},
{flock}, {good deal}, {great deal}, {hatful}, {heap}, {lot},
{mass}, {mess}, {mickle}, {mint}, {muckle}, {peck}, {pile},
{plenty}, {pot}, {quite a little}, {raft}, {sight}, {slew},
{stack}, {tidy sum}, {wad}, {whole lot}, {whole slew}]
2: a sudden forceful flow [syn: {rush}, {surge}, {upsurge}]
3: the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or
melting snow [syn: {freshet}]