ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English, from flood + gate
1.
a. : a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing a body of water : a sluice gate : sluice ; specifically : the lower gate of a lock
b. : something that acts to restrain an outburst
tears do stop the floodgates of her eyes — Shakespeare
2. : the stream stopped by or allowed to pass by a floodgate : flood
a whole floodgate of facts — John Ward