1
- a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope（尤指顺陡峭岩石坡逐级而下的）小瀑布。
1.1
- a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious or luxuriant quantities（数量大的）瀑布状下垂物：
a cascade of pink bougainvillea.
一大串粉红叶子花。
1.2
- a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession大量涌现的东西; 接踵而至的东西：
a cascade of anti-war literature.
大量涌现的反战文学作品。
2
- a process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed（尤指信息或知识等的）连续传递过程：
as modifier the greater the number of people who are well briefed, the wider the cascade effect.被告知的人数越多, 连续传递的范围越广。
2.1
- a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next（一个过程中前一个引发后一个的）连续阶段, 一系列装置。
1
- no obj., with adverbial of direction(of water) pour downwards rapidly and in large quantities（水）倾泻, 流注：
water was cascading down the stairs.
水顺着楼梯倾泻而下。
1.1
- fall or hang in copious or luxuriant quantities大量落下, 垂下：
blonde hair cascaded down her back.
金发如瀑布般披在她背上。
2
- with obj. pass (something) on to a succession of others连续传递; 传授：
teachers who are able to cascade their experience effectively.
能有效传授经验的老师。
3
- with obj. arrange (a number of devices or objects) in a series of sequence使（装置, 物品）串联。
词源
mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian cascata, from cascare 'to fall', based on Latin casus （see CASE1）.