Definition: Waterfall

From New World Encyclopedia
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Etymology

From Middle English waterfal, waterfalle, from Old English wæterġefeall (waterfall), equivalent to water + fall. Cognate with West Frisian wetterfal (waterfall), Dutch waterval (waterfall), German Wasserfall (waterfall), Swedish vattenfall (waterfall).

Noun

waterfall (plural waterfalls)

  1. A flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
  2. A waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc.
    A waterfall of mist came from the open freezer.

Derived terms

  • waterfall effect
  • waterfall model

Verb

waterfall (third-person singular simple present waterfalls, present participle waterfalling, simple past and past participle waterfalled)

  1. (intransitive) To fall like a waterfall.
  2. (transitive) To drink (something) from a container by pouring it from a height so as not to touch one's lips to the rim.
  3. (roller derby) Synonym of recycle

Derived terms

  • waterfalled
  • waterfalling

Credits

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