a gate that can be opened or closed to admit or exclude water, especially the lower gate of a lock (尤指下层)泄洪闸门,(泄)水闸门 ■(figurative)(一般作 the floodgates)a last restraint holding back an outpouring of something powerful or substantial (喻)最后一道闸门(约束措施) his lawsuit could open the floodgates for thousands of similar claims. 他的诉讼案将会打开无数同类索赔的闸门。