cascade

[kas-keyd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cascade ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface.

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

anything that resembles a waterfall, especially in seeming to flow or fall in abundance: a cascade of roses covering the wall.

(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.

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

a type of firework resembling a waterfall in effect.

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.

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

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.

verb (used without object), cas·cad·ed, cas·cad·ing.

to fall in or like a cascade.

verb (used with object), cas·cad·ed, cas·cad·ing.

to cause to fall in a cascade.

Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.

Origin of cascade

1635–45; < French < Italian cascata, equivalent to casc(are) to fall (< Vulgar Latin *cāsicāre, equivalent to cās(us) fallen (past participle of cadere) + -icā- formative v. suffix + -re infinitive ending) + -ata -ade¹

Related formscas·cad·er, nounun·cas·cad·ed, adjectiveun·cas·cad·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for cascade

outpouring, avalanche, waterfall, torrent, deluge, tumble, spew, spill, pour, descend, overflow, gush, chute, force, rapids, spout, shower, flood, fountain, watercourse

Examples from the Web for cascade

Contemporary Examples of cascade

I remember practicing that lick [from the solo “Round Midnight” recording] years ago, learning how to do that cascade effect.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth
David Yaffe
November 8, 2014
With her cascade of red, twirling hair and pale, fine-boned face.
Murdoch on the Rocks: How a Lone Reporter Revealed the Mogul's Tabloid Terror Machine
Clive Irving
August 25, 2014
The cascade of same-sex marriage rulings is now a torrent, each more quotable and image-ready than the last.
Pennsylvania. Oregon. Is Gay Marriage Unstoppable?
Jay Michaelson
May 20, 2014
Expect aurora borealis in the long foray but no cascade of light.
How Seamus Heaney Influenced Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey
Natasha Trethewey
September 3, 2013
Undoubtedly, we can look forward to just such a cascade regarding part time employees.
Counting Full Time Employees
Megan McArdle
January 18, 2013

Historical Examples of cascade

Cassy, the cascade of flowers and stars about her, looked at the harper.
The Paliser case
Edgar Saltus
She was humming a strange tune over the cascade like another Minnehaha.
In a Little Town
Rupert Hughes
The cascade at the bottom of the slope appeared a mere span in height from where they were now.
A Pair of Blue Eyes
Thomas Hardy
Here is found the cascade of Idurewadde; and higher up, the cataract of Itabru.
The Western World
W.H.G. Kingston
The fifth, as brilliant as a cascade on which the sun is shining, is "Joy."
The Pianolist
Gustav Kobb

British Dictionary definitions for cascade

cascade

noun

a waterfall or series of waterfalls over rocks

something resembling this, such as folds of lace

a consecutive sequence of chemical or physical processes
(as modifier)cascade liquefaction

a series of stages in the processing chain of an electrical signal where each operates the next in turn
(as modifier)a cascade amplifier

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

the sequence of spontaneous decays by an excited atom or ion

verb

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

Word Origin for cascade

C17: from French, from Italian cascata, from cascare to fall, ultimately from Latin cadere to fall

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cascade

1640s, from French cascade (17c.), from Italian cascata "waterfall," from cascare "to fall," from Vulgar Latin *casicare, frequentative of Latin casum, casus, past participle of cadere "to fall" (see case (n.1)).

1702, from cascade (n.). In early 19c. slang, "to vomit." Related: Cascaded; cascading.

cascade in Medicine

cascade

[kă-skād′]

n.

A succession of actions, processes, or operations, as of a physiological process.

cascade in Science

cascade

[kăs-kād′]

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.