waterfall

[ waw-ter-fawl, wot-er- ]

noun

1. a steep fall or flow of water in a watercourse from a height, as over a precipice; cascade.
2. a manner of arranging women's hair, as in long, loose waves.

adjective

1. noting or relating to a philosophy of product development and production that includes sequential stages, from conception and design through testing and implementation, resulting in one finalized version of the product: waterfall management; Compare agile ( def 4 ).waterfall development.

   waterfall development;

   waterfall management;

   a waterfall model.

waterfall

/ ˈwɔːtəˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a cascade of falling water where there is a vertical or almost vertical step in a river

Word History and Origins

Origin of waterfall¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English wætergefeall. See water, fall

Example Sentences

I hiked up through a charred burn zone from the 2012 Fern Lake Fire, across a wooden bridge, and past a roaring waterfall that sprayed cool mist onto my cheeks.

From Outside Online

You can expect highs hovering in the low to mid-80s, and countless waterfalls and swimming holes scattered throughout the park help you beat the heat in July and August.

From Outside Online

The rivers are tight, boulder-choked, and packed with waterfalls and cascades, so be prepared to work for each strike.

From Outside Online

The platform allows anyone visiting the park in late summer and early fall to witness the spectacle of brown bears fishing for salmon, whose migration is slowed down by the waterfalls.

From Popular-Science

Cook up a storm in the large outdoor kitchen, stroll to the private 50-foot-tall waterfall, or visit one of eight state parks within a half-hour drive of the property.

From Outside Online

Ask most designers for their mentors and out will gush a waterfall of names.

From The Daily Beast

In 2010, nuns who were visiting the monastery had taken pictures of the waterfall just past where Escobar's bunker had been.

From The Daily Beast

An impressive grand-scale set was constructed complete with a waterfall as the backdrop.

From The Daily Beast

The Upper Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America, is not to be missed.

From The Daily Beast

However, a cold beer nestled in your backpack is the perfect treat when you finally make it to that vista or waterfall.

From The Daily Beast

At a distance of four miles from the colony, a waterfall foams down a chasm which it has worn away for itself.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked with longing eyes at the waterfall as he finished the last crumbs of his supper.

From Project Gutenberg

She walked from the little waterfall quite a distance down the brook, looking at it with critical eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

Near the fort, a waterfall precipitates itself perpendicularly down a narrow ravine.

From Project Gutenberg

Tiny silver fish darted to and fro beneath a tumbling waterfall and he felt calmed and reassured by the sight.

From Project Gutenberg