Word of the Day: cascade
cas·cade /kæsˈkeɪd/ [kas-keyd] noun, verb, -cad·ed, -cad·ing.
-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, esp. 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)
10. to fall in or like a cascade.
-verb (used with object)
11. to cause to fall in a cascade.
12. Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.
[Origin: 1635-45; < F < It cascata, equiv. to casc(are) to fall (< VL *cāsicāre, equiv. to cās(us) fallen (ptp. of cadere) + -icā- formative v. suffix + -re inf. ending) + -ata -ade1]
-Related forms
cas·cad·er, noun
-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, esp. 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)
10. to fall in or like a cascade.
-verb (used with object)
11. to cause to fall in a cascade.
12. Electricity. to arrange (components) in a cascade.
[Origin: 1635-45; < F < It cascata, equiv. to casc(are) to fall (< VL *cāsicāre, equiv. to cās(us) fallen (ptp. of cadere) + -icā- formative v. suffix + -re inf. ending) + -ata -ade1]
-Related forms
cas·cad·er, noun