waterfall

Meaning

Noun

1. A flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
2. (figuratively) A waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc.
3. (abbreviation, alt-of) Short for waterfall model
4. (US, slang) The action of drinking from a vessel without touching it with the lips, considered more sanitary for a shared vessel.
5. (colloquial, dated) A necktie.
6. (colloquial, dated) A chignon (hairstyle).
7. (colloquial, dated) A beard.
8. A kind of handstand with chin tucked and back arched.

Verb

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. Synonym of recycle.

Synonyms

cascade

cataract

falls

fall

spring

fountain

⛲

chute

drop

steep

falling out

linn

watercouse

mountain-torrent

head fall

free overfall

hydraulic drop

cadence

mountain torrent

collapse

destination

downfall

jump

leap

punch line

rapids

Translations

Wasserfall

cascata

waterval

cascada

cascade

cascata

chute d’eau

cachoeira

καταρράκτης

catarata

cascada

chute

caída de agua

cataracte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɔːtəfɔːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: waterfal

Inherited from Old English: wæterġefeall

Cognate with Western Frisian: wetterfal

Cognate with Dutch: waterval

Cognate with German: Wasserfall

Cognate with Swedish: vattenfall

In summary

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”).

Sentences

Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon .