avalanche
ava·lanche [avalanche avalanches avalanched avalanching] [ˈævəlɑːnʃ] [ˈævəlæntʃ] (NAmE also snow·slide) noun
a mass of snow, ice and rock that falls down the side of a mountain
• alpine villages destroyed in an avalanche
• He was killed in an avalanche while skiing.
• (figurative) We received an avalanche of letters in reply to our advertisement.
See also: snowslide
Word Origin:
late 18th cent.: from French, alteration of the Alpine dialect word lavanche (of unknown origin), influenced by avaler ‘descend’; compare with Italian valanga.
Example Bank:
• They died in an avalanche.
• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
• We've been almost buried under the avalanche of letters.
• the avalanche of lawlessness threatening to engulf our civilization
• The issue has generated an avalanche of controversy.
