waterfall
waterfall Lexical Profile
waterfall Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A geological formation in which water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops in the course of a stream or river.
"We hiked for three hours through the dense forest to reach the spectacular waterfall."
A sequential software development or project management methodology in which progress is seen as flowing steadily downwards through distinct phases.
"The engineering team decided to transition from a traditional waterfall model to an agile approach to improve flexibility."
A sudden, continuous, and heavy cascade or outpouring of something resembling falling water.
"As she opened the overhead compartment, a waterfall of colorful fabrics tumbled out onto the floor."
Word Nuance & Usage
While primarily referring to a natural geological feature, 'waterfall' is also widely used in software engineering and project management to describe a strictly sequential, non-iterative development methodology.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English waterfall, deriving from Old English wæterfeall, a direct compound of wæter (water) and feall (fall).