Waterfall

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈwɔːtÉ™fɔːl/
• US enPR: wäʹtÉ™r-fôl, IPA: /ˈwÉ‘tÉšfÉ”l/

Origin

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").

Full definition of waterfall

Noun

1. A flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
2. (figuratively) A waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc.
• A waterfall of mist from the open freezer.
3. (technical, computing, slang) Waterfall model
• ''A very long duration project ... had taken a whole group of people through a painful waterfall development process.

Synonyms

• flow of water over the edge a cliff: cascade, cataract, sault

Derived terms

• coastal waterfall
• waterfall bong
• waterfall effect
• waterfall illusion
• waterfall model
• waterfall stomach

Verb

1. (intransitive) To fall like a waterfall.
• 1994, Nora Roberts, Private Scandals, Rain ran off the bill of his fielder's cap and waterfalled in front of his face.
• 1999, Jane Yolen, Armageddon Summer‎, Zondra, whose dirty-blond hair waterfalled above her head from a colorful tie, gave a snorting, horsey kind of laugh.
• 2008, John Gardner, No Human Enemy‎, they turned into the drive of The Manor with its red-brick front and the wonderful cloak of Virginia creeper waterfalling down between the windows.

Derived terms

• waterfalled
• waterfalling