waterfall

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English waterfal, waterfalle, from Old English wæterġefeall (“waterfall”), equivalent to water +‎ fall. Cognate with West Frisian wetterfal (“waterfall”), Dutch waterval (“waterfall”), German Wasserfall (“waterfall”), Swedish vattenfall (“waterfall”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɔːtəfɔːl/ (Standard Southern British, Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈwoːtəfoːl/ (US) enPR: wôʹtər-fôl, wŏʹtər-fôl (without the cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈwɔtɚfɔl/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈwɑtɚfɑl/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈwɔtəɾfɔl/ Rhymes: -ɔːl === Noun === waterfall (plural waterfalls) A flow of water over the edge of a cliff. Synonyms: cataract, cascade, falls, force (northern England), foss (northern England), forcefall, sault (US, Canada), catadupe (uncommon) (figuratively) A waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc. (software engineering) Short for waterfall model (slang, US) The action of drinking from a vessel without touching it with the lips, considered more sanitary for a shared vessel. (colloquial, dated) A necktie. (colloquial, dated) A chignon (hairstyle). (colloquial, dated) A beard. (gymnastics) A kind of handstand with chin tucked and back arched. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === waterfall (third-person singular simple present waterfalls, present participle waterfalling, simple past and past participle waterfalled) (intransitive) To fall like a waterfall. (transitive) To drink (something) from a container by pouring it from a height so as not to touch one's lips to the rim. (roller derby) Synonym of recycle. ==== Derived terms ==== waterfalled waterfalling ==== Translations ==== === See also === cloudfall icefall smokefall forcefall