First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
floodgate
noun flood·gate \ˈfləd-ˌgāt\
: a gate for controlling the flow of water from a lake, river, reservoir, etc.
Full Definition of FLOODGATE
1
: a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : sluice
2
: something serving to restrain an outburst <opened the floodgates of criticism>
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Origin of FLOODGATE
Middle English flodgate
Rhymes with FLOODGATE
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