/ kæˈskeɪd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a small waterfall , especially one of several falling down a steep slope with rocks
2.
a large amount of water falling or pouring down :
a cascade of rainwater
3.
( formal ) a large amount of sth hanging down :
Her hair tumbled in a cascade down her back.
4.
( formal ) a large number of things falling or coming quickly at the same time :
He crashed to the ground in a cascade of oil cans.
■ verb [ v + adv. / prep. ]
1.
to flow downwards in large amounts :
Water cascaded down the mountainside.
2.
( formal ) to fall or hang in large amounts :
Blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French , from Italian cascata , from cascare to fall, based on Latin casus fall, related to cadere to fall.