Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Avalanche

Av′a-lancheˊ

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[F.
avalanche
, fr.
avaler
to descend, to let down, from
aval
down, downward; [GREEK] (L.
ad
) +
val
, L.
vallis
, valley. See
Valley
.]
1.
A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
2.
A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
3.
A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.

Webster 1828 Edition


Avalanche

AVALANCHE

,

Definition 2024


avalanche

avalanche

English

Noun

avalanche (plural avalanches)

  1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
  2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
  3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.
  4. Anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity (like a barrage, blitz, etc).

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

avalanche (third-person singular simple present avalanches, present participle avalanching, simple past and past participle avalanched)

  1. (intransitive) To descend like an avalanche.
  2. (transitive) To come down upon; to overwhelm.
    The shelf broke and the boxes avalanched the workers.

Translations


French

Etymology

From Franco-Provençal (Savoy) avalançhe, blend of aval ‘downhill’ and standard lavençhe, from Vulgar Latin *labanka (compare with Occitan lavanca, Italian valanga), alteration of Late Latin labina ‘landslide’ (compare with Franco-Provençal (Dauphiné) lavino, Romansch lavina), from Latin labi ‘to slip, slide’.

Pronunciation

  • /avalɑ̩̃ʃ/

Noun

avalanche f (plural avalanches)

  1. avalanche

Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French avalanche, from Savoyard Franco-Provençal avalançhe.

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˌa.va.ˈlɐ̃.ʃi/

Noun

avalanche f (plural avalanches)

  1. avalanche (large mass of snow sliding down a mountain side)
  2. (figuratively) (sudden, great, or irresistible influx of anything)

Synonyms

  • (mass of snow sliding down): alude