Avalanche

/ˈæv.ə.læntʃ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A large mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.

The ski resort was closed due to the risk of an avalanche.

A sudden arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities.

She received an avalanche of messages after her birthday post went viral.

A large-scale, sudden, and rapid occurrence of something, especially in reference to a series of events.

The company faced an avalanche of complaints after the controversial advertisement.

verb

To fall or rush down in or as if in an avalanche.

The boulders avalanched down the slope, creating a cloud of dust.

To overwhelm someone or something with a large amount of something.

The students were avalanched with homework after the break.

From French 'avalanche', from Latin 'ad' (to) + 'vallis' (valley)

avalanches of paperwork

a large number of documents requiring attention

an avalanche of criticism

a sudden large amount of criticism received

to trigger an avalanche

to initiate a series of events that lead to a larger outcome

landslide

A sudden collapse of earth material down a slope.

snowdrift

A bank of snow piled by the wind.

rockfall

A rapid descent of a mass of loose rock.

A large number or overwhelming amount of something.

There was an avalanche of likes on his latest post.

A situation that escalates quickly.

After that meeting, it felt like an avalanche of problems rolled in.