avalanche

[ av-uh-lanch, -lahnch ]

noun

1. a large mass of snow, ice, etc., detached from a mountain slope and sliding or falling suddenly downward.
2. anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity:

   an avalanche of misfortunes; an avalanche of fan mail.

3. Also called Townsend avalanche. Physics, Chemistry. a cumulative ionization process in which the ions and electrons of one generation undergo collisions that produce a greater number of ions and electrons in succeeding generations.

verb (used without object)

, av·a·lanched, av·a·lanch·ing.

1. to come down in, or like, an avalanche.

verb (used with object)

, av·a·lanched, av·a·lanch·ing.

1. to overwhelm with an extremely large amount of anything; swamp.

avalanche

/ ˈævəˌlɑːntʃ /

noun

1. 1. a fall of large masses of snow and ice down a mountain
   2. a fall of rocks, sand, etc
2. a sudden or overwhelming appearance of a large quantity of things

   an avalanche of letters

3. physics a group of ions or electrons produced by a single ion or electron as a result of a collision with some other form of matter

verb

1. to come down overwhelmingly (upon)

avalanche

/ ăv′ə-lănch′ /

1. The sudden fall or slide of a large mass of material down the side of a mountain. Avalanches may contain snow, ice, rock, soil, or a mixture of these materials. Avalanches can be triggered by changes in temperature, by sound vibrations, or by vibrations in the earth itself.
2. A process resulting in the production of large numbers of ionized particles, in which electrons or ions collide with molecules, with each collision itself producing an additional electron or ion that in turn collides with other molecules. Avalanches are what generate the pulses of electric current that are registered by Geiger counters.

Word History and Origins

Origin of avalanche¹

1755–65; < French < dial. (Savoy) avalantse, alteration (by association with avaler to descend rapidly) of laventse < pre-Latin (perhaps Ligurian) *lavanca, or reshaping of Late Latin labīna landslide (derivative of Latin labī to slide) with a pre-Latin suffix -anca

Word History and Origins

Origin of avalanche¹

C18: from French, by mistaken division from la valanche, from valanche, from (northwestern Alps) dialect lavantse; related to Old Provençal lavanca, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Oklahoma-bound quarterback Jaden O’Neal completed 14 of 21 passes for 396 yards and six touchdowns and ran for a 35-yard score as the Gauchos buried Marine League rival San Pedro under an avalanche of points in the second quarter on the way to a 75-31 blowout in the Open Division final Friday night at El Camino College .

From Los Angeles Times

Mikko Rantanen scored twice in the third period to complete his ninth career hat trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings.

From Los Angeles Times

But an avalanche at the time killed four people, including his friend and teacher, Tenjen Lama Sherpa.

From NewsForKids.net

“Every day we’re live is a rehearsal,” he said, for the avalanche, or the earthquake, when that communication infrastructure could save lives.

From Slate

“It was like an avalanche. They’re the best team we’ve faced. They’re so physical up front.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barrage
• deluge
• flood
• landslide
• torrent