An adjustable gate or valve used to control the flow of water through a sluice. / (by extension) Anything that controls or limits an outpouring of people, emotion etc.

plural of floodgate

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of open the floodgates

simple past tense and past participle of open the floodgates

(idiomatic) To allow some action to proceed more swiftly or to a greater extent

present participle of open the floodgates