Avalanche: meaning, definitions and examples
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avalanche
[ ˈæv.ə.læntʃ ]
natural disaster
An avalanche is a sudden and powerful flow of snow, ice, and rocks down a mountainside. It is a dangerous event that can cause destruction and loss of life.
Synonyms
snow avalanche, snowslide, snowslip
Examples of usage
- The avalanche buried the small village under a thick blanket of snow.
- She narrowly escaped being caught in the avalanche.
large amount
An avalanche can also refer to a large amount of something that arrives or happens at the same time, overwhelming everything in its path.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The store experienced an avalanche of customers during the holiday sale.
- The company received an avalanche of complaints after the product recall.
Translations
Translations of the word "avalanche" in other languages:
🇵🇹 avalanche
🇮🇳 हिमस्खलन
🇩🇪 Lawine
🇮🇩 longsoran salju
🇺🇦 лавина
🇵🇱 lawina
🇯🇵 雪崩 (なだれ)
🇫🇷 avalanche
🇪🇸 avalancha
🇹🇷 çığ
🇰🇷 눈사태
🇸🇦 انهيار ثلجي
🇨🇿 lavina
🇸🇰 lavína
🇨🇳 雪崩 (xuěbēng)
🇸🇮 plaz
🇮🇸 snjóflóð
🇰🇿 қар көшкіні
🇬🇪 ზვავი
🇦🇿 qar uçqunu
🇲🇽 avalancha
Word origin
The word 'avalanche' originated from the Franco-Provençal word 'lavantse', which means 'falling'. It has been used in English since the early 18th century to describe the sudden descent of snow down a mountainside. Avalanches are natural phenomena that have been a part of mountainous regions for centuries, posing risks to travelers and residents alike.