noun

spate

SPAYT/speɪt/

A sudden large amount of something.

A spate of letters pours through the mail slot onto the floor.

A rush of letters pours through a door’s mail slot, with numerous envelopes still falling and a fresh heap spreading across the floor.

Etymology

Spate originally meant a sudden flood, which supplied the image for an unusually large rush of events or things. Its origin is unknown; a connection with Old French espoit, “flood,” is only suggested.

In context

First Aid for Life0:17

Sadly, there's been a huge spate of acid attacks lately. There's been 600 in the last, sorry, 400 in the last six months of reported incidents, and probably more as well.

Acid Attacks and Chemical Burns | First Aid

More examples

A recent spate of burglaries has neighbors worried.
The discovery triggered a spate of new research.
Heavy snow caused a spate of flight cancellations.

Forms

spate · spates

Similar words

rash: Usually describes a sudden series of unwelcome events.
surge: Emphasizes a sharp increase rather than many separate occurrences.
flood: Suggests an overwhelming quantity, not necessarily a sudden one.