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   av·a·lanche

   /ˈavəˌlan(t)SH/

   noun

   • 1. a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside: "he was swept to his death by an avalanche in 1988" Similar snowslidesnow sliprockslideicefalllandslidelandslip
   • ▪ a large mass of any material moving rapidly downhill: "an avalanche of mud"
   • 2. a sudden arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities: "we have had an avalanche of applications" Similar barragevolleyflooddelugetorrenttidestreamstormshowerspatewaveOpposite trickle
   • 3. a cumulative process in which a fast-moving ion or electron generates further ions and electrons by collision.

   verb

   • 1. (of a mass of snow, ice, and rocks) descend rapidly down a mountainside.
   • ▪ engulf or carry off by an avalanche: "the climbers were avalanched down the south face of the mountain"
   • 2. undergo a rapid increase in conductivity due to an avalanche process.

   Word Origin late 18th century: from French, alteration of the Alpine dialect word lavanche (of unknown origin), influenced by avaler ‘descend’; compare with Italian valanga.

   Scrabble Points: 17

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   • V

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