noun a large number or amount of something, especially in a brief period of time
The author's latest novel explores the spate of political corruption in a fictional country.
The spate of deforestation is leading to loss of biodiversity.
A spate of heavy rain caused flooding in the area.
There has been a spate of robberies in the neighborhood.
The spate of earthquakes in the region has caused widespread destruction.
In the world of literature, 'spate' is often used to describe a sudden outpouring or rush of something, such as a spate of new book releases or a spate of critical acclaim for a particular author.
Psychologists may use 'spate' to refer to a sudden increase in a particular behavior or mental health issue among a certain population, such as a spate of anxiety disorders among teenagers.
Journalists may use 'spate' to describe a sudden series of events or incidents, such as a spate of violent crimes in a specific neighborhood or a spate of political scandals in a government.
In the field of marketing, 'spate' can be used to describe a sudden increase in demand for a particular product or service, such as a spate of orders following a successful advertising campaign.