cascade

[ kas-keyd ]

noun

1. a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface.
2. a series of shallow or steplike waterfalls, either natural or artificial.
3. anything that resembles a waterfall, especially in seeming to flow or fall in abundance:

   a cascade of roses covering the wall.

4. (in a drain or sewer) a chain of steps for dissipating the momentum of falling water in a steep place in order to maintain a steady rate of flow.
5. an arrangement of a lightweight fabric in folds falling one over another in random or zigzag fashion.
6. a type of firework resembling a waterfall in effect.
7. Chemistry. a series of vessels, from each of which a fluid successively overflows to the next, thus presenting a large absorbing surface, as to a gas.
8. Electricity. an arrangement of component devices, as electrolytic cells, each of which feeds into the next in succession.
9. Biochemistry. a series of reactions catalyzed by enzymes that are activated sequentially by successive products of the reactions, resulting in an amplification of the initial response.

verb (used without object)

, cas·cad·ed, cas·cad·ing.

1. to fall in or like a cascade.

verb (used with object)

, cas·cad·ed, cas·cad·ing.

1. to cause to fall in a cascade.
2. Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.

cascade

/ kæsˈkeɪd /

noun

1. a waterfall or series of waterfalls over rocks
2. something resembling this, such as folds of lace
3. 1. a consecutive sequence of chemical or physical processes
   2. ( as modifier )

      cascade liquefaction

4. 1. a series of stages in the processing chain of an electrical signal where each operates the next in turn
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cascade amplifier

5. the cumulative process responsible for the formation of an electrical discharge, cosmic-ray shower, or Geiger counter avalanche in a gas
6. the sequence of spontaneous decays by an excited atom or ion

verb

1. intr to flow or fall in or like a cascade

cascade

/ kăs-kād′ /

1. A series of chemical or physiological processes that occur in successive stages, each of which is dependent on the preceding one, to produce a culminating effect. The steps involved in the clotting of blood occur as a cascade.

Other Words From

• cas·cader noun
• uncas·caded adjective
• uncas·cading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cascade¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from French, from Italian cascata, from casc(are) “to fall” (from Vulgar Latin cāsicāre (unrecorded), from cās(us) “fallen,” past participle of cadere “to fall”; cadenza, case ¹ ) + -ata -ade ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cascade¹

C17: from French, from Italian cascata, from cascare to fall, ultimately from Latin cadere to fall

Example Sentences

While the “cascade of illegality” that defined the Bush era’s war on terror was indeed somewhat addressed by Obama, it remained, Koh reminds us, “undercorrected” — including not seeking “stronger accountability for past acts of CIA torture, and the stubborn continuation of a Guantanamo detention policy.”

From Salon

In Suffolk, a cascade of thousands of knitted and crocheted poppies has become a village centrepiece, while members of Roses of Ryedale Women’s Institute in North Yorkshire have created a life-size model of a soldier, decorated with knitted poppies, to mark Remembrance Sunday 2024.

From BBC

The result comes after a tumultuous few years for the LDP which saw a cascade of scandals, widespread voter apathy and record-low approval ratings.

From BBC

Japanese voters are today heading to the polls in a snap election, following a tumultuous few years for the ruling party which saw a “cascade” of scandals, widespread voter apathy and record-low approval ratings.

From BBC

“I think the LDP has dug itself a very deep hole to climb out of. It does not enjoy public trust, and why should it? There's just been a cascade of scandals,” Jeff Kingston, professor of Asian studies and history at Temple University Japan, told the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• descend
• gush
• overflow
• pour
• spew
• spill
• tumble