avalanchenounfeminine/ɐvɐˈlɐ̃ʃɨ/mediuma·va·lan·chePortuguesEnglishEspanolFrancaisDefinitionA large mass of snow, ice, earth, or rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.The avalanche blocked the mountain pass.They were caught in a sudden avalanche.synsnowslidelandslideCommon collocationsavalanche warningavalanche victimtrigger an avalancheEtymologyDo francês 'avalanche'.