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floodgates

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floodgate

One entry found.

Main Entry: flood·gate

Pronunciation: \ˈfləd-ˌgāt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English flodgate

Date: 13th century

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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