Waterfall Meaning
/ˈwɔːtəfɔːl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
nounA waterfall-like outpouring of liquid, smoke, etc.
Sentence Examples
There is a waterfall above the bridge.
A waterfall of sweat began to pour down my face.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hikers stopped to admire the tall ____ flowing down the cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We hiked for several many hours to reach the hidden ____, which was a very beautiful and peaceful sight today.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Hello, my love, I heard a kiss from you / Red magic satin playing near too / All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn't shine / Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind"
— 1977, Brothers Johnson, “Strawberry Letter 23”, in Right on Time:
"I found home a dreary place after my long absence; for half the children I had known were now wearing whiskers or waterfalls, […]"
— 1870–1871 (date written), Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “”, in Roughing It, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company [et al.], published 1872, →OCLC, pages 569–570:
"Rain ran off the bill of his fielder's cap and waterfalled in front of his face."
— 1994, Nora Roberts, Private Scandals, page 54:
"Zondra, whose dirty-blond hair waterfalled above her head from a colorful tie, gave a snorting, horsey kind of laugh."
— 1999, Jane Yolen with Bruce Coville, Armageddon Summer, page 79:
"they turned into the drive of The Manor with its red-brick front and the wonderful cloak of Virginia creeper waterfalling down between the windows."
— 2008, John Gardner, No Human Enemy, page 156:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hikers stopped to admire the tall ____ flowing down the cliff.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We hiked for several many hours to reach the hidden ____, which was a very beautiful and peaceful sight today.