cascade

[ kas-keyd ]

/ kæsˈkeɪd /

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.

Nearby words

casas, bartolomé de las, casaubon, casaubon, isaac, casbah, cascabel, cascade, cascade molecule, cascade particle, cascade range, cascade stomach, cascades

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

Undoubtedly, we can look forward to just such a cascade regarding part time employees.
Counting Full Time Employees|Megan McArdle|January 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They pulled along till the bay opened out more clearly, and just in front was a cascade, which came tumbling down the rocks.
Alone on an Island|W.H.G. Kingston
I must have great works of art to occupy me in order to obtain a cascade.
Bouvard and Pcuchet, part 2|Gustave Flaubert
We tarried not at all, but got back through the cascade into the cavern again, and so up and out, on the way to that cliff-top.
The Voodoo Gold Trail|Walter Walden
They all wandered on till they came to a cascade flowing down over some high rocks.
Our Little German Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
They have already succeeded in constructing, near the cascade, a corn-mill and a saw-mill, and have built a very good oven.
The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island|Johann David Wyss

British Dictionary definitions for cascade

cascade

/ (kæsˈkeɪd) /

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 (1 of 2)

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)).

Word Origin and History for cascade (1 of 2)

cascade

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

Medicine definitions for cascade

cascade

[ kă-skād′ ]

n.

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

Science definitions for cascade

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.

cascade

noun

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

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

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Nearby words

Origin of cascade

Examples from the Web for cascade

British Dictionary definitions for cascade

cascade

noun

verb

Word Origin for cascade

Word Origin and History for cascade (1 of 2)

cascade

Word Origin and History for cascade (1 of 2)

cascade

Medicine definitions for cascade

cascade

n.

Science definitions for cascade

cascade