spate
noun [ C usually singular ] uk/speɪt/ us/speɪt/
（尤指不愉快的）大量突发事件
a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time
Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the Kingsland Road area. 警方正在调查最近在金斯兰德路周边地区接连发生的多起入室盗窃案。
in (full) spateUK （河流）水位猛涨，泛滥
If a river is in (full) spate, it has more water in it and is flowing faster than it usually does.