AVALANCHE

Avalanche

An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope. Avalanches are typically triggered in a starting zone from a mechanical failure in the snowpack when the forces on the snow exceed its strength but sometimes only with gradually widening . After initiation, avalanches usually accelerate rapidly and grow in mass and volume as they entrain more snow. If the avalanche moves fast enough some of the snow may mix with the air forming a powder snow avalanche, which is a type of gravity current.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Avalanche
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avalanche

Noun

  1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
  2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
  3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.
  4. Anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity (like a barrage, blitz, etc).

Verb

  1. To descend like an avalanche.
  2. To come down upon; to overwhelm.
    The shelf broke and the boxes avalanched the workers.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: avalanche
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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