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to avalanche

to avalanche

5.5
To slide down a mountain in a large mass of snow
  • verb
  • /ˈæv.ə.læntʃ/
  • UK
translation icon : deslizarse en avalancha
  • As the heavy snow began to melt, the risk of an avalanche avalanched down the mountainside grew.

Examples

  • At 1 ng/dl over normal, we should feel fine, but as soon as we're at 1 ng/dl below, the symptoms just avalanche on us?

    Blog text (31)
  • The rocks became loose and started to avalanche down the steep cliff after the heavy rain.

  • During the winter storms, it is crucial to stay away from slopes that might avalanche when the snow becomes unstable.

Synonyms

to fall
vsto avalanche
1.0

Move or drop down from a higher to a lower place

refers specifically to large rapid mass slides rather than any downward movement
to plummet
vsto avalanche
93 5.8

Fall suddenly and steeply from a high place or in amount

involves a large moving mass rather than a single quick drop
to cascade down
vsto avalanche
4 4.2

To fall or flow quickly in large amounts like a waterfall

occurs as a sliding cohesive mass rather than a flowing pour
to landsliding
vsto avalanche
  • Specialized
5.5

To move quickly down a slope as a large mass of earth

includes snow as well as earth and rock in large rapid slides

Antonyms

718 1.0

To move upward into the air, like smoke or mist

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

Compounds

A plant that lives for many years with white flowers often with orange spots near melting snow

How Fast

to plummet
93 5.8
to avalanche
  • UK
5.5
to fall
1.0
to slip
503 2.3
slide
5 1.0
shift
363 3.5

Surface Forms

avalanche infinitive
avalanched past
avalanched past participle
avalanche present participle
avalanches third person singular

Etymology

Avalanche as a verb comes from the same root aval meaning 'down', so it means 'to fall or slide down quickly'. Picture snow racing down a mountain and you will remember that to avalanche is to move down suddenly in a large mass.