CASCADE | Definition and Meaning

Definition of Cascade

Cascade

cas·cade

Definition/Meaning

(noun)

a small steep waterfall, especially one that is part of a series that falls down a rocky slope in stages;

e.g. We took a break from hiking near a small cascade with cool water flowing down.

(noun)

broadly, a mass of something that hangs or falls in a large amount, or a large amount of something that rushes forth or occurs rapidly;

e.g. A cascade of toys spilled out of the closet when the door was opened. The magazine's office received a cascade of phone calls from angry readers.

(noun)

broadly, a series of stages that make up a process, where each stage initiates the next one, for example the process by which knowledge or information is passed on by people;

e.g. The riots triggered a cascade of social reforms that changed the country for the better. Somewhere along the cascade, the story had been altered and exaggerated.

(verb)

to rapidly pour or rush downwards, usually in a large quantity, or to hang or fall down in a large amount;

e.g. We watched the water cascade down the rocks and turn foamy as it did. Dense vines cascade down from the branches of the trees.

(verb)

to arrange things in a particular sequence or series, especially one in which each thing triggers the next;

e.g. There is a way to cascade the steps of the process so that they automatically happen one after the other.