spate

spate (http://definr.com/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"; "he made a mint on the stock market"; "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]