floodgate

flood·gate

F0191400 (flŭd′gāt′)n.1. A gate used to control the flow of a body of water. Also called water gate.2. Something that restrains a flood or outpouring: The ruling opened the floodgates to refugees seeking asylum.

floodgate

(ˈflʌdˌɡeɪt) n1. (Civil Engineering) Also called: head gate or water gate a gate in a sluice that is used to control the flow of water. See also sluicegate2. (often plural) a control or barrier against an outpouring or flow: to open the floodgates to immigration.

flood•gate

(ˈflʌdˌgeɪt)

n. 1. a gate designed to regulate the flow of water. 2. anything serving to control the indiscriminate flow or passage of something. [1175–1225]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	floodgate - something that restrains a flood or outpouring; "suspension of surveillance opened the floodgates to illegal immigrants"restraint - a rule or condition that limits freedom; "legal restraints"; "restraints imposed on imports"
	2.	floodgate - regulator consisting of a valve or gate that controls the rate of water flow through a sluicehead gate, penstock, sluice valve, sluicegate, water gateregulator - any of various controls or devices for regulating or controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, etc.sluice, sluiceway, penstock - conduit that carries a rapid flow of water controlled by a sluicegate

Translations

chiusaparatoia