English noun: floodgate | |||
1. | floodgate (cognition) something that restrains a flood or outpouring | ||
Samples | Suspension of surveillance opened the floodgates to illegal immigrants. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | restraint | ||
2. | floodgate (artifact) regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluice | ||
Synonyms | head gate, penstock, sluice valve, sluicegate, water gate | ||
Broader (hypernym) | regulator | ||
Part meronym | penstock, sluice, sluiceway | ||