avalanche

1 of 2

noun

av·​a·​lanche ˈa-və-ˌlanch 

1

: a large mass of snow, ice, earth, rock, or other material in swift motion down a mountainside or over a precipice

2

: a sudden great or overwhelming rush or accumulation of something

hit by an avalanche of paperwork

3

physics : a cumulative process in which photons or accelerated charge carriers produce additional photons or charge carriers through collisions (as with gas molecules)

avalanche

2 of 2

verb

avalanched; avalanching

intransitive verb

: to descend in an avalanche

Snow avalanched down the mountain.

transitive verb

: overwhelm, flood

The office was avalanched with applications.

Examples of avalanche in a Sentence

Noun

He was buried by an avalanche.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Photos of the slide show a natural avalanche occurred in the same area on Sunday, officials said. —Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2024

One thing that is not anticipated is an avalanche of opt-outs, which has played out in some programs, or an unenthusiastic response to a bowl challenge. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 Nov. 2024

Verb

The distinctive light green of aspen leaves in summer, set off from the deep greens of conifers such as lodgepole pines, frequently marks the zones where winter snow is unstable and tends to avalanche. —Michael C Grant, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

James and the Lakers were getting avalanched, but a run to undo a 17-point deficit got them to within a point before the Memphis Grizzlies smothered them with a barrage of baskets. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French, from French dialect (Franco-Provençal) lavantse, avalantse

First Known Use

Noun

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1826, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

avalanche

noun

av·​a·​lanche

ˈav-ə-ˌlanch

1

: a large mass of snow and ice or of earth and rock sliding down a mountainside

2

: a sudden large amount

an avalanche of words