avalanche, n. [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; (L. ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See Valley.].

A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice. [1913 Webster]
A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice. [1913 Webster]
A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

avalanche, n. & v.
--n.
1 a mass of snow and ice, tumbling rapidly down a mountain.
2 a sudden appearance or arrival of anything in large quantities (faced with an avalanche of work).
--v.
1 intr. descend like an avalanche.
2 tr. carry down like an avalanche.

Etymology

F, alt. of dial. lavanche after avaler descend

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THESAURUS

avalanche

abundance, affluence, ample sufficiency, ampleness, amplitude, blizzard, bonanza, bountifulness, bountiousness, bumper crop, coast, copiousness, crystal, deluge, driven snow, embarras de richesses, enough, extravagance, extravagancy, exuberance, fertility, flake, flood, flow, flurry, foison, full measure, fullness, generosity, generousness, glide, glissade, glissando, granular snow, great abundance, great plenty, gush, igloo, inundation, landslide, landslip, lavishness, liberality, liberalness, lots, luxuriance, mantle of snow, maximum, mogul, money to burn, more than enough, much, myriad, myriads, numerousness, opulence, opulency, outpouring, overabundance, overaccumulation, overbounteousness, overcopiousness, overdose, overflow, overlavishness, overluxuriance, overmeasure, overmuchness, overnumerousness, overplentifulness, overplenty, overpopulation, overprofusion, oversufficiency, oversupply, plenitude, plenteousness, plentifulness, plenty, plethora, prevalence, prodigality, productiveness, profuseness, profusion, quantities, redundancy, repleteness, repletion, rich harvest, rich vein, richness, riot, riotousness, scads, shower, sideslip, skid, slide, slip, slippage, slither, slosh, slush, snow, snow banner, snow bed, snow blanket, snow blast, snow fence, snow flurry, snow roller, snow slush, snow squall, snow wreath, snow-crystal, snowball, snowbank, snowbridge, snowcap, snowdrift, snowfall, snowfield, snowflake, snowland, snowman, snowscape, snowshed, snowslide, snowslip, snowstorm, spate, stream, subsidence, substantiality, substantialness, superabundance, superflux, teemingness, wealth, wet snow

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ROGET THESAURUS

avalanche

Redundancy

N redundancy, redundance, too much, too many, superabundance, superfluity, superfluence, saturation, nimiety, transcendency, exuberance, profuseness, profusion, repletion, enough in all conscience, satis superque, lion's share, more than enough, plethora, engorgement, congestion, load, surfeit, sickener, turgescence, overdose, overmeasure, oversupply, overflow, inundation, avalanche, accumulation, heap, drug, drug in the market, glut, crowd, burden, excess, surplus, overplus, epact, margin, remainder, duplicate, surplusage, expletive, work of supererogation, bonus, bonanza, luxury, intemperance, extravagance, exorbitance, lavishment, pleonasm, too many irons in the fire, embarras de richesses, redundant, too much, too many, exuberant, inordinate, superabundant, excessive, overmuch, replete, profuse, lavish, prodigal, exorbitant, overweening, extravagant, overcharged, supersaturated, drenched, overflowing, running over, running to waste, running down, crammed to overflowing, filled to overflowing, gorged, ready to burst, dropsical, turgid, plethoric, obese, superfluous, unnecessary, needless, supervacaneous, uncalled for, to spare, in excess, over and above, de trop, adscititious, supernumerary, on one's hands, spare, duplicate, supererogatory, expletive, un peu fort, over, too, over and above, overmuch, too much, too far, without measure, beyond measure, out of measure, with a to spare, over head and ears, up to one's eyes, up to one's ears, extra, beyond the mark, acervatim, it never rains but it pours, fortuna multis dat nimium nulli satis, Degree of Subservience.

Descent

N descent, descension, declension, declination, fall, falling, slump, drop, plunge, plummet, cadence, subsidence, collapse, lapse, downfall, tumble, slip, tilt, trip, lurch, cropper, culbute, titubation, stumble, fate of Icarus, avalanche, debacle, landslip, landslide, declivity, dip, hill, rappel, descending, descendent, decurrent, decursive, labent, deciduous, nodding to its fall, downhill, downwards, the bottom fell out.

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