cascade
gb/kæskˈeɪd/ us/kæskˈeɪd/
B2
English
~ 9000
vízesés, zuhatag, lavina, láncolat, áradat, lezúdul, aláomlik, lépcsőzetesen eljuttat, lefelé továbbít, kaszkád, lépcsőzetes folyamat, omló hullámok
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a cascade of [water] over [rocks]
A narrow path led to a hidden cascade deep in the forest.
Egy keskeny ösvény egy rejtett vízeséshez vezetett az erdő mélyén.
After the heavy rain, the usually dry rocks turned into a rushing cascade.
A heves eső után az általában száraz sziklák zúgó zuhataggá változtak.
Tourists stopped to take photos of the cascade spilling into the clear pool below.
The trail follows the river past several small cascades and pools.
Mist from the high cascade cooled the air around the viewpoint.
Learner examples
We walked to a small cascade in the mountains.
Elgyalogoltunk egy kis vízeséshez a hegyekben.
The water in the cascade was very loud.
A vízesés vize nagyon hangosan zúgott.
A cold cascade fell into a blue pool.
Many people sat near the cascade and took photos.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'cascade' instead of the more common word 'waterfall' in everyday speech. 'Cascade' is correct but sounds more descriptive or literary. In basic conversation, 'waterfall' is usually the better choice.
Meaning
small waterfall or series
Collocations
mountain cascade
|rocky cascade
|a series of cascades
|water cascades over rocks
|a cascade tumbling down
|picturesque cascade
Synonyms
waterfall (The general, most common word; 'cascade' can sound more scenic or poetic.)
|
rapids (Refers to fast, rough water in a river; a 'cascade' usually drops more steeply.)
Themes
nature
|geography
|travel
Definition
A small, steep waterfall, or many small waterfalls one after another over rocks.
A small, steep waterfall, or a series of such waterfalls, especially one that flows over rocks in steps.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
a cascade of [things/events/problems]
The announcement set off a cascade of angry comments on social media.
A bejelentés dühös kommentek lavináját indította el a közösségi médiában.
One small error in the code led to a cascade of system failures.
Egy apró hiba a kódban rendszerhibák láncolatát indította el.
After the scandal broke, a cascade of new allegations quickly followed.
The new policy created a cascade of unexpected problems for the team.
Her decision to move started a cascade of changes in the whole family.
Learner examples
After the news, there was a cascade of phone calls.
A hír után telefonhívások áradata indult meg.
One bad choice can start a cascade of other bad things.
Egy rossz döntés további rossz dolgok lavináját indíthatja el.
He opened his inbox and saw a cascade of messages.
The small mistake caused a cascade of big problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'a lot of cascade of problems'*. Do not add 'a lot of' before 'cascade'; instead say 'a cascade of problems' or 'a lot of problems'. Also, use 'of' after 'cascade' in this sense: 'a cascade of errors', not *'a cascade errors'.*
Meaning
series of many events/things
Collocations
a cascade of emails
|a cascade of problems
|a cascade of failures
|a cascade of changes
|a cascade of questions
|trigger a cascade of events
Synonyms
torrent (Emphasizes a very strong, overwhelming flow, often of words or emotions.)
|
flood (Very common figurative term for a large, often overwhelming number of things.)
Antonyms
trickle (Suggests a very small, slow amount coming, the opposite of a large, fast cascade.)
Themes
communication
|work
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A lot of things that come or happen very fast, one after another, and are linked together.
A large number of things, such as events, problems, or messages, that happen or arrive quickly one after another in a connected way.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to cascade [down/over] [something]
Her dark hair cascaded down her back in loose waves.
Sötét haja laza hullámokban omlott a hátára.
Water cascaded over the rocks into a quiet pool below.
A víz a sziklákon át lezúdult az alattuk lévő nyugodt vízmedencébe.
Colorful lights cascaded down the side of the building during the festival.
Rain cascaded from the broken gutter and soaked the front steps.
Golden leaves cascaded from the trees as the wind picked up.
Learner examples
Long hair cascaded over her shoulders.
Hosszú haja a vállára omlott.
Water cascaded down the stone wall.
A víz lezúdult a kőfalon.
Snow cascaded from the roof onto the street.
Small lights cascaded down from the top of the tree.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'cascade' transitively, as in *'The river cascaded the water.'* In this sense, 'cascade' is intransitive: 'The water cascaded down the rocks,' not *'cascaded the rocks'*. Use it like 'fall' or 'flow', not like 'pour something'.
Meaning
to fall/flow down like water
Collocations
water cascades down
|cascading water
|hair cascades over her shoulders
|lights cascading down the wall
|rain cascaded from the roof
|tears cascaded down his face
Synonyms
pour (A very common word for liquid flowing quickly; 'cascade' adds a visual, often graceful image.)
|
spill (Suggests flowing over an edge; less visual and continuous than 'cascade'.)
Antonyms
drip (Describes slow, small drops, the opposite of a large, continuous flow.)
Themes
nature
|appearance
|movement
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move down fast and without stopping, like water in a waterfall.
To fall or flow quickly and continuously downward in large amounts, often in a way that looks like a waterfall.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to cascade [information/changes/tasks] down [through an organization/system]
The leadership team will cascade the new strategy down to all departments.
A vezetőség lépcsőzetesen eljuttatja az új stratégiát minden részleghez.
Training materials are cascaded through regional managers to local staff.
A képzési anyagokat lépcsőzetesen, a regionális vezetőkön keresztül juttatják el a helyi munkatársakhoz.
We need a clear plan for cascading these policy changes across the organization.
Project updates are cascaded weekly from senior management to front-line teams.
The funding will be cascaded from the central office to individual schools.
Learner examples
Managers will cascade the message to their teams.
A vezetők lefelé továbbítják az üzenetet a csapataiknak.
The company will cascade the new rules to all workers.
A vállalat lépcsőzetesen eljuttatja az új szabályokat minden dolgozóhoz.
The teacher asked the head students to cascade the news to each class.
The office will cascade the training to every department.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'cascade to down'*. Use either 'cascade down' or 'cascade to', not both together. For example, 'cascade information down to all teams' or 'cascade information to all teams,' not *'cascade information to down all teams'.*
Meaning
to pass through levels in stages
Collocations
cascade information down
|cascade changes through the organization
|cascade training to staff
|cascade goals to teams
|cascade updates across the company
|cascade decisions down the hierarchy
Synonyms
disseminate (More formal; focuses on spreading information widely, not necessarily step by step.)
|
roll out (Informal business term for launching something; does not always suggest multiple levels.)
Antonyms
withhold (To keep information or resources from being passed on, the opposite of cascading them down.)
Themes
business
|management
|technology
|work
Definition
To send or move information, work, or things step by step from higher levels to lower levels.
To cause information, tasks, money, or changes to be passed from a higher level to lower levels in a series of stages, especially within an organization or system.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
kaszkád
C1
Usage pattern:
a cascade of [stages/reactions/devices]
The drug works by interrupting the inflammatory signaling cascade.
A gyógyszer úgy hat, hogy megszakítja a gyulladásos jelátviteli kaszkádot.
In this amplifier cascade, each stage increases the signal strength.
Ebben az erősítőkaszkádban minden fokozat növeli a jel erősségét.
A small mutation can disrupt the entire coagulation cascade.
The researchers modeled the cascade of biochemical reactions inside the cell.
Failure in one part of the network triggered a cascade of shutdowns in connected systems.
Learner examples
The body uses a cascade of small steps to stop bleeding.
A vérzés elállításához a szervezet apró lépésekből álló kaszkádot használ.
In this machine, power goes through a cascade of parts.
Ebben a gépben az energia egymás után kapcsolt alkatrészek kaszkádján halad át.
A tiny change can affect the whole cascade of reactions.
The system failed because one part in the cascade broke.
Common mistake:
In technical writing, learners sometimes treat 'cascade' as a verb where a noun is needed, e.g. *'the signaling molecules cascade the process'* instead of 'start the signaling cascade'. Use 'cascade' as a countable noun here: 'a signaling cascade', 'the coagulation cascade'.
Meaning
multi-stage chain of processes
Collocations
signaling cascade
|coagulation cascade
|amplifier cascade
|cascade of biochemical reactions
|enzyme cascade
|nuclear cascade
Synonyms
chain reaction (Focuses on one event causing another; 'cascade' often suggests a structured or multi-step process.)
|
multi-stage process (More general and descriptive; lacks the idea of increasing effect often implied by 'cascade'.)
Antonyms
single-stage system (Describes a system with only one step, the opposite structure of a cascade.)
Themes
science
|technology
|engineering
Definition
In science and technology, a chain of steps where each step uses the result of the step before it.
In scientific and technical contexts, a sequence of devices, processes, or events in which the output of one stage becomes the input of the next, often amplifying an effect.
NOUN
C1
6
zuhatag
B2
Usage pattern:
a cascade of [hair/fabric/curls]
She wore her hair in a cascade of dark curls down her back.
Sötét fürtjei zuhatagként omlottak le a hátán.
The dress featured a cascade of silk ruffles at the hem.
A ruha szegélyét selyemfodrok zuhataga díszítette.
A cascade of red hair fell over his shoulders as he removed the tie.
The designer added a soft cascade of fabric down one side of the gown.
Her veil formed a delicate cascade behind her as she walked.
Learner examples
Her long hair was a cascade of curls.
Hosszú haja göndör fürtök zuhataga volt.
The skirt had a cascade of soft fabric.
A szoknyát lágyan omló, puha anyagzuhatag díszítette.
A cascade of blonde hair covered her back.
The dress had a pretty cascade at the back.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'cascade' here is a verb and say *'She cascaded her hair.'* In this meaning, 'cascade' is a noun: 'a cascade of hair', 'her hair was a cascade of curls.' Use another verb like 'wore' or 'fell' with it.
Meaning
style of hair/fabric falling in waves
Collocations
a cascade of curls
|a cascade of blonde hair
|a cascade of silk
|a cascade of ruffles
|a soft cascade over her shoulders
|a cascade-style ponytail
Synonyms
waves (Common word for gently curved hair; 'cascade' suggests more length and downward flow.)
Antonyms
updo (A hairstyle where the hair is pinned up, opposite of hair left to fall in a cascade.)
Themes
appearance
|fashion
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A way of wearing hair or cloth so that it falls down in soft layers, like a waterfall.
A style in which hair, fabric, or similar material hangs or falls in layers or waves that resemble a waterfall.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cascade
IPA
GB/kæskˈeɪd/
US/kæskˈeɪd/
Syllables & stress
cas - cade (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cade)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cascade
- Plural: cascades
Verb
- Base: cascade
- 3rd Person Singular: cascades
- Present Participle: cascading
- Past: cascaded
Word family
Forms
cascades
noun
cascading
verb
cascaded
verb
Expressions
a cascade of
1/ə kæskˈeɪd əv/
fixed phrase
a large, fast series of things
Used before a plural noun to mean many things that come or happen very fast, one after another.
Examples
- The report triggered a cascade of complaints from customers.
- She received a cascade of messages after the post went viral.
cascade control
1/kæskˈeɪd kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
technical
multi-loop control system
In engineering, a control system that uses two or more control loops, where one loop adjusts the target value for another loop.
Examples
- Cascade control can improve the stability of temperature regulation in the reactor.
- The process engineer recommended using cascade control for better response to disturbances.
cascade delete
1/kæskˈeɪd dɪlˈit/
fixed phrase
technical
automatic deletion of related records
In databases, when deleting one item also automatically deletes other items that are linked to it.
Examples
- Be careful when enabling cascade delete on these tables.
- The developer used cascade delete to keep the database free of orphaned records.
cascade down
1/kæskˈeɪd dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
move or flow down in stages
To go down from a high place or level to lower ones, often step by step or in large amounts.
Examples
- New regulations will cascade down from the government to local authorities.
- Water cascaded down from the broken pipe onto the floor below.
cascade effect
1/kæskˈeɪd ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
one event causing many others
When one thing happens and then causes many other things to happen after it, one by one.
Examples
- Cutting the budget had a cascade effect on staffing and services.
- They worried that closing one school could create a cascade effect across the district.
cascade reaction
1/kæskˈeɪd ɹiˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
multi-step chemical reaction chain
In chemistry, a chain of reactions where each reaction uses the product from the reaction before it.
Examples
- The synthesis relies on a cascade reaction to build the final complex molecule.
- Enzymes often work together in a cascade reaction inside the cell.
cascading effect
1/kæskˈeɪdɪŋ ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
effect spreading step by step
When the result of one event moves through a system and changes many parts, one after another.
Examples
- The new tax rules had a cascading effect on small businesses.
- A small mistake in the design can have a cascading effect on the whole project.
cascading errors
1/kæskˈeɪdɪŋ ˈɛɹɚz/
fixed phrase
technical
errors caused by earlier errors
Errors that happen one after another because each new error comes from a problem before it.
Examples
- Incorrect input data can quickly produce cascading errors in the results.
- The team fixed the original bug to stop the cascading errors in the application.
cascading failure
1/kæskˈeɪdɪŋ fˈeɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
chain reaction of system failures
When one part of a system fails and then makes other parts fail, one after another.
Examples
- A single software bug led to a cascading failure across the entire network.
- Engineers are redesigning the grid to prevent cascading failures during storms.
cascading menu
1/kæskˈeɪdɪŋ mˈɛnju/
fixed phrase
technical
computer menu with side submenus
In computer software, a menu where moving to an item opens another menu next to it.
Examples
- Right-click to open the cascading menu and select the formatting options.
- The old software still uses a complex cascading menu system.