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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Avalanche Meaning, Examples, and Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：Sudden snow slide (avalanche)

avalanche 🔊

/ˈævəlæntʃ/

A huge amount of snow, ice, and rocks that suddenly falls down a mountain.

Avalanche snow slide cascading down a steep mountain slope

Sudden snow slide 🔊

➕

/ˈsʌdən snoʊ slaɪd/

An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow, ice, and debris down a mountainside, often triggered by natural factors or human activity.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From French 'avalanche', originally from Provençal 'lavanca' (landslide).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'A-val-anche' as 'a valley launch' - snow launching down a valley.

📖 Example

The climbers were trained to recognize the warning signs, like a loud cracking sound, that could indicate an avalanche was about to happen. 🔊 The mountaineers were taught to spot early signs, such as a sharp cracking sound, that might signal an approaching avalanche.

🔗 Collocations

trigger an avalanche – Cause a snow slide

avalanche of rocks – A large falling mass of rocks

survive an avalanche – Live through a snow slide

🔄 Synonyms

landslide (n.) – A mass of earth or rock sliding down a slope

snowslide (n.) – A fall of snow down a slope, usually smaller than an avalanche

mudslide (n.) – A flow of mud down a slope

🌱 Derivatives

avalanched (adj.) – Covered or overwhelmed by an avalanche

avalanche-prone (adj.) – Likely to experience avalanches

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English from French in the 18th century. Its root 'lavanca' in Provençal evokes a landslide. Today it is also used metaphorically for a sudden overwhelming influx, like 'an avalanche of emails'.

Meaning 2：Sudden influx (avalanche)

avalanche 🔊

/ˈævəlæntʃ/

A very large amount of something that comes suddenly, like a flood.

Sudden influx 🔊

➕

/ˈsʌdən ˈɪnflʌks/

This meaning describes a sudden, overwhelming amount of something, such as messages, requests, or work, that feels like being buried.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After her blog post went viral, she was buried under an avalanche of positive comments and interview requests. 🔊 After her post became popular online, she was overwhelmed by a massive wave of positive feedback and interview offers.

🔗 Collocations

an avalanche of emails – A huge number of unexpected emails

an avalanche of criticism – A sudden flood of negative comments

an avalanche of work – An overwhelming amount of tasks

🔄 Synonyms

flood (n.) – A large number or amount that overwhelms

deluge (n.) – A severe flood or overwhelming rush

torrent (n.) – A fast and powerful stream of something, often water or words

🚫 Antonyms

trickle (n.) – A small, slow amount