cascade

1 of 2

noun

cas·​cade (ˌ)kas-ˈkād 

1

: a steep usually small fall of water

especially : one of a series

2

a

: something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding

blood clotting involves a biochemical cascade

b

: a fall of material (such as lace) that hangs in a zigzag line and that is used especially in clothing and draperies

3

: something falling or rushing forth in quantity

a cascade of sound

a cascade of events

Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.

cascade

2 of 2

verb

cascaded; cascading

intransitive verb

: to fall, pour, or rush in or as if in a cascade

The water cascaded over the rocks.

Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.

transitive verb

1

: to cause to fall like a cascade

2

: to connect in a cascade arrangement

Synonyms

Noun

• cataract
• fall(s)
• waterfall

Examples of cascade in a Sentence

Noun

Her hair was arranged in a cascade of curls.

That decision set off a cascade of events.

Verb

The water cascades over the rocks.

Her hair cascaded down around her shoulders.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fires Creek Falls offers a recreation area equipped with picnic tables, grills, and of course the namesake cascades. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024

Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Grossi cautioned that Iran had started activating cascades of advanced IR-6 centrifuges, which could significantly accelerate the enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Verb

The styling trick—which highlights the hips—was also on the Alaïa spring 2023 catwalk, in the form of knit dresses with sophisticated cascading front drapes. —Nuria Luis, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024

Editor’s picks But, for me, the most widespread damage came from this trial’s cascading effects on the entire system. —Anthony Michael Kreis, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French, from Italian cascata, from cascare to fall, from Vulgar Latin *casicare, from Latin casus fall

First Known Use

Noun

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1702, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

cascade

1 of 2 noun

cas·​cade kas-ˈkād 

: a steep usually small waterfall

cascade

2 of 2 verb

cascaded; cascading

: to fall in or as if in a cascade

Medical Definition

cascade

noun

cas·​cade (ˌ)kas-ˈkād 

: a molecular, biochemical, or physiological process occurring in a succession of stages each of which is closely related to or depends on the output of the previous stage

a cascade of enzymatic reactions

the cascade of events comprising the immune response