1. a sudden flood, rush, or outpouring 2. a large number or amount

This word worked nicely in a recent Prospect article:

Why do people get so agitated about linguistic misuses and even about changes in the language? Is English in a bad state? Are things getting worse? These questions have been made topical by Lynne Truss’s bestselling Eats, Shoots & Leaves and by the spate of books (and a television show) on similar themes by authors hoping to benefit from her success.