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Avalanche vs Tsunami - What's the difference?

avalanche | tsunami |

As nouns the difference between avalanche and tsunami

is that avalanche is a large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice while tsunami is a very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

As a verb avalanche

is to descend like an avalanche.

avalanche

Noun

(en noun)
  • A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
  • A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of snow or ice.
  • A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.
  • Anything like an avalanche in suddenness and overwhelming quantity (like a barrage, blitz, etc).
  • Synonyms

    * snowslide, snowslip

    Verb

    (avalanch)
  • To descend like an avalanche.
  • To come down upon; to overwhelm.
  • The shelf broke and the boxes avalanched the workers.

    tsunami

    English

    Alternative forms

    * sunami (nonstandard)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.
  • Synonyms

    * tidal wave (usage conflict)

    Derived terms

    * megatsunami * teletsunami * tsunamigenic * tsunameter

    See also

    * earthquake * flood * natural disaster * seaquake * seiche * tidal wave * waterquake