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waterfall

n. · v.
US //ˈwɔtɝˌfɔɫ// UK //wˈɔːtəfˌɔːl// wa·ter·fall
  1. 1 falling water (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a place where a river or stream falls over the edge of a cliff or steep rocks.

    a steep descent of water from a height, typically where a river or stream flows over a precipice.

    Example

    We hiked for three hours to see the beautiful waterfall in the mountains.

    Example

    The sheer volume of the waterfall created a permanent mist that nourished a unique microclimate of ferns and mosses along the canyon walls.
  2. 2 drinking style (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Slang Informal

    a way of drinking from a bottle by pouring the liquid into your mouth without touching the rim.

    the act of consuming a beverage from a shared container by pouring the liquid from a height to avoid labial contact.

    Example

    Since we only had one bottle of water, we did a waterfall so we wouldn't share germs.

    Example

    The coach insisted that the players use a waterfall technique when sharing the communal water jug to prevent the spread of the flu among the team.

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  1. 3 furniture style (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Art

    a style of furniture from the 1930s and 40s with rounded, curved edges.

    a design movement in mid-century furniture characterized by rounded 'waterfall' edges and the use of figured wood veneers.

    Example

    She bought a vintage waterfall dresser at the antique market.

    Example

    The bedroom suite featured the distinctive waterfall aesthetic of the late 1930s, with book-matched walnut veneers and gracefully curved horizontal edges.
    • art deco
  2. 4 project management (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Technical Computing

    a way of managing a project where you finish one step completely before starting the next.

    a sequential development process in which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards through phases such as requirements, design, and implementation.

    Example

    The company switched from waterfall to agile to finish software updates faster.

    Example

    While the waterfall model provides a clear structure for large-scale infrastructure projects, it often lacks the flexibility required for modern software development cycles.
    • sequential model
  3. 5 to flow down (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to fall or flow down quickly and in large amounts, like water.

    to descend or cascade in a manner suggestive of a waterfall. Intransitive use.

    Example

    Her long hair waterfalling down her back was bright red.

    Example

    The ivy waterfalled over the balcony, creating a living curtain of green that obscured the view of the street below.
Origin

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”).

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