noun Uncommon

avalanche

A-vuh-lahnsh

Avalanche (noun) means a large mass of snow and ice that suddenly breaks loose and slides down a mountainside. Example: “The skiers had to be rescued after an avalanche blocked the only path down.”

noun

A large mass of snow and ice that suddenly breaks loose and slides down a mountainside.

"The skiers had to be rescued after an avalanche blocked the only path down."

A sudden, overwhelming amount of something arriving all at once.

"The announcement triggered an avalanche of complaints from customers."

verb

To come down or arrive suddenly and overwhelmingly, like an avalanche.

"Messages avalanched into her inbox after the story went viral."

How to Use Avalanche

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden slide of snow — or, more loosely, a sudden flood of something (complaints, requests, news).

Common pairings

trigger an avalanche avalanche of criticism caught in an avalanche

Word Forms

avalanched past tense, avalanches plural, avalanches singular

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The skiers had to be rescued after an _____ blocked the only path down.

Etymology

From French avalanche, blending a regional word for "downhill" with an older term for a landslide, ultimately from Latin labor, "to slip or slide."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for avalanche

Blanche Comanche

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “avalanche” mean?

The word “avalanche” means a large mass of snow and ice that suddenly breaks loose and slides down a mountainside. In plain terms, a sudden slide of snow — or, more loosely, a sudden flood of something (complaints, requests, news).

How do you pronounce “avalanche”?

“Avalanche” is pronounced A-vuh-lahnsh (/ˈævəlæn(t)ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “avalanche” in a sentence?

Here is “avalanche” used in a sentence: “The skiers had to be rescued after an avalanche blocked the only path down.”

What part of speech is “avalanche”?

Depending on how it is used, “avalanche” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “avalanche” come from?

The word “avalanche” comes from Latin. From French avalanche, blending a regional word for "downhill" with an older term for a landslide, ultimately from Latin labor, "to slip or slide.".

Is “avalanche” a common word?

“Avalanche” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “avalanche” have?

“Avalanche” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large mass of snow and ice that suddenly breaks loose and slides down a mountainside.