a steep fall of water from a higher into a lower place. The word is French, formed of the Italian cascata, which signified the same; of cascaro, "to fall," and that from the Latin cadere.

Cascades are either natural, as that at Tivoli, &c.; or artificial, as those of Versailles, &c.; and either falling with a gentle descent, as those of Sceaux; or in form of a buffet, as at Trianon; or down steps, in form of a peron, as at St Cloud; or from bason to bason, &c.