Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Avalanche"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Avalanche \Av"a*lanche`\ (?; 277), n. [F. avalanche, fr. avaler
to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; ? (L. 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
avalanche
n 1: a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a
mountain
2: a sudden appearance of an overwhelming number of things;
"the program brought an avalanche of mail"
v : of snow masses in the mountains [syn: {roll down}]
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