AVALANCHE
avalanche
(noun) a sudden appearance of an overwhelming number of things; “the program brought an avalanche of mail”
avalanche
(noun) a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain
avalanche, roll down
(verb) gather into a huge mass and roll down a mountain, of snow
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
avalanche (plural avalanches)
A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
A fall of earth, rocks, etc, similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx; anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity; a barrage, blitz, etc.
Synonyms
• (mass of snow sliding down): snowslide, snowslip
Verb
avalanche (third-person singular simple present avalanches, present participle avalanching, simple past and past participle avalanched)
(intransitive) To descend like an avalanche.
(transitive) To come down upon; to overwhelm.
(transitive) To propel downward like an avalanche.
Source: Wiktionary
Av"a*lanche`, n. Etym: [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let
down, from aval down, downward; 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition