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)
Examples of avalanche in a Sentence
Noun
He was buried by an avalanche.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Frost avalanches As the temperature starts its seasonal climb, chunks of frost composed of carbon dioxide begin to break apart and crash to the surface.
—Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for avalanche 
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Noun
After guests complete avalanche training in the morning, runs are accessed from the warm comfort of a snowcat that transports skiers and snowboarders to the top of terrain and picks them up at the bottom, to do it all again.
—Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Frost avalanches As the temperature starts its seasonal climb, chunks of frost composed of carbon dioxide begin to break apart and crash to the surface.
—Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for avalanche
Dictionary Entries Near avalanche
Cite this Entry
“Avalanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avalanche. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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