floodgate

1. (figuratively, extension) Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion, etc.Examples: "“The floodgates for advertising on cable are down,” says Michael Dann, a leading consultant on cable television."figuratively

2. (obsolete) A stream that passes through a floodgate; a torrent.Examples: "Out of her gored wound the cruell ſteel / He lightly ſnatcht, and did the floodgate ſtop / VVith his faire garment: then gan ſoftly feel her feeble pulſe, to proue if any drop / Of liuing blood yet in her veynes did hop"; "The accuſation conſiſting of thoſe three articles, was moſt true: your doctrine was ſcādalous, it offred much offence, being generally diſtaſted; and was erroneous, being detected to be the floodgate of Traitors ſtaiers, looſing in ſome ſuppoſititious doctrines, and many blaſphemous arrogating much to man, derogating much from God."obsolete