avalanche

av-a-lanche · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.

  2. 2.

    (Figurative) An overwhelming quantity of something arriving suddenly.

  3. 3.

    To fall or rush down like an avalanche.

Forms

plural: avalanches

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    avalanche warning — An alert about potential avalanche danger.
  • •
    trigger an avalanche — To cause an avalanche to occur.

Related words

See also: landslide, mountain, snow
Synonyms: landslide, snowslide

Etymology

From French avalanche, from Franco-Provençal lavanche, probably from Vulgar Latin labanca ("landslip").