cascade

American  

[kas-keyd] / kæsˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface.

2. a series of shallow or steplike waterfalls, either natural or artificial.

3. anything that resembles a waterfall, especially in seeming to flow or fall in abundance.

   a cascade of roses covering the wall.

4. (in a drain or sewer) a chain of steps for dissipating the momentum of falling water in a steep place in order to maintain a steady rate of flow.

5. an arrangement of a lightweight fabric in folds falling one over another in random or zigzag fashion.

6. a type of firework resembling a waterfall in effect.

7. Chemistry. a series of vessels, from each of which a fluid successively overflows to the next, thus presenting a large absorbing surface, as to a gas.

8. Electricity. an arrangement of component devices, as electrolytic cells, each of which feeds into the next in succession.

9. Biochemistry. a series of reactions catalyzed by enzymes that are activated sequentially by successive products of the reactions, resulting in an amplification of the initial response.

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verb (used without object)

cascades, present (3rd person singular) cascaded, past participle, past cascading present participle

1. to fall in or like a cascade.

verb (used with object)

cascades, present (3rd person singular) cascaded, past participle, past cascading present participle

1. to cause to fall in a cascade.

2. Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.

cascade British  

/ kæsˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a waterfall or series of waterfalls over rocks

2. something resembling this, such as folds of lace

3. 1. a consecutive sequence of chemical or physical processes

   2. ( as modifier )

      cascade liquefaction

4. 1. a series of stages in the processing chain of an electrical signal where each operates the next in turn

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cascade amplifier

5. the cumulative process responsible for the formation of an electrical discharge, cosmic-ray shower, or Geiger counter avalanche in a gas

6. the sequence of spontaneous decays by an excited atom or ion

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verb

1. (intr) to flow or fall in or like a cascade

cascade Scientific  

/ kăs-kād′ /

1. A series of chemical or physiological processes that occur in successive stages, each of which is dependent on the preceding one, to produce a culminating effect. The steps involved in the clotting of blood occur as a cascade.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cascader
  noun
• uncascaded
  adjective
• uncascading
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have cascaded
  perfect
• has cascaded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are cascading
  progressive
• has been cascading
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is cascading
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been cascading
  perfect progressive
• am cascading
  progressive 1st person singular
• cascades
  singular 3rd person
• cascading
  participle

Past

• had cascaded
  perfect
• were cascading
  progressive plural
• was cascading
  progressive singular
• had been cascading
  perfect progressive
• cascaded
  participle
• cascaded
  simple

Future

• will cascade
  simple
• will have cascaded
  perfect
• will be cascading
  progressive
• will have been cascading
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of cascade

First recorded in 1635–45; from French, from Italian cascata, from casc(are) “to fall” (from Vulgar Latin cāsicāre (unrecorded), from cās(us) “fallen,” past participle of cadere “to fall”; cf. cadenza, case ¹) + -ata -ade ¹

Explanation

Think of a cascade as something suddenly falling, tumbling down in a rush. The word cascade conjures up a vision of anything falling in a manner resembling a waterfall — think of a cascade of shining hair, a sudden cascade of tears, or the cascade of light during a meteor shower. The idea behind the word is of something falling in a progressive manner or a series of steps. A downward progression of musical themes can be called a cascade, as can the disastrous cascade of the tumbling price of a stock on Wall Street.

Example Sentences

“We bought the wood from them and that’s how we fell under the government’s gaze,” said Eric Breslin, a lawyer representing Boise Cascade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

About the authors: Christopher Collins is a fellow with the Polycrisis Program at the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

In winter 2018, Fish and Wildlife researchers successfully attached GPS collars to one male and two female foxes in the Lassen Peak area of the Cascade Range.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Yet better transmission lines are needed to carry new energy sources in the windy and sunny eastern parts of the region to big cities west of the Cascade Mountain Range.

From Salon • May 14, 2025

A mile farther down the road, the place where Cascade Creek should’ve been, was dry as well.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• descend
• gush
• overflow
• pour
• spew
• spill
• tumble