avalanche
noun
large amount of snow falling
AVALANCHE + VERB happen, strike sth The avalanche struck the ski resort in the late afternoon.| engulf sb/sth | kill sb They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
PREP. in an/the ~ They died in an avalanche.
large number/amount of sth
VERB + AVALANCHE be buried under
AVALANCHE + VERB engulf sth the avalanche of lawlessness threatening to engulf our civilization
PREP. ~ of We've been almost buried under the avalanche of mail.
