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avalanche
The definition of avalanche means a massive quantity of something that comes suddenly such as snow, ice, earth or rocks that come loose and speed down a mountain.
(noun)- An example of avalanche is a glacier that splits from a cliff face and hurdles down the side of a mountain.
- An example of avalanche is getting an unusually large amount of mail on a certain day.
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See avalanche in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a mass of loosened snow, earth, rocks, etc. suddenly and swiftly sliding down a mountain, often growing as it descends
- any large, overwhelming quantity that comes suddenly: an avalanche of mail, of blows, etc.
Origin: Fr (altered after avaler, to descend) < lavanche < Prov lavanca < *lavenca, prob. a pre-Roman word in a non-IE language of N Italy
intransitive verb, transitive verb avalanched, avalanching
to come down (on) like an avalanche
See avalanche in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside.
- A massive or overwhelming amount; a flood: received an avalanche of mail.
To fall or slide in a massive or overwhelming amount.
verb, transitive To overwhelm; inundate.
Origin:
Origin: French
Origin: ; akin to Provençal lavanca, ravine
Origin: , perhaps ultimately from Latin lābī, to slip
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