Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A major river in North America: The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, forming part of the international border between the province of Ontario, Canada, and the state of New York, United States.
   • A famous waterfall system: Niagara commonly refers to the collective Niagara Falls, a group of three large waterfalls on this river, most notably the Horseshoe Falls (on the Canadian side) and the American Falls (on the U.S. side).

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Niagara River is a vital channel in the Great Lakes system.
  • We took a boat tour to see the mist and power of Niagara.
  • The city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, is a popular tourist destination.

Advanced Usage

• "to do a Niagara" (informal, rare): To talk incessantly or at great length; a metaphor for an overwhelming flow of words, derived from the waterfall's powerful, unceasing flow.
  • Once he started on his favorite topic, he did a complete Niagara and we couldn't get a word in.

Variants and Related Words

• Niagaran (adjective): Pertaining to the Niagara River, Niagara Falls, or the surrounding region.
  • The Niagaran escarpment is a significant geological feature.
• Niagara Falls (proper noun): The specific name for the world-famous waterfalls on the Niagara River.

Synonyms

• The Falls: A common shorthand for Niagara Falls.
  • We're planning a trip to see the Falls next summer.
• Cataract: A literary or formal term for a large, powerful waterfall.
  • The thunder of the great cataract could be heard for miles.

Related Phrases

• "Niagara of" (figurative): Used to describe an overwhelming, cascading quantity of something.
  • The report released a Niagara of criticism against the policy.
  • She faced a Niagara of paperwork after returning from vacation.

Related Idioms

• "To go over Niagara in a barrel": To undertake a reckless, dangerous, or seemingly impossible venture. This idiom originates from daredevil stunts performed at the falls.
  • Trying to fix the company's finances now is like going over Niagara in a barrel.

Noun

1. a river flowing from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario; forms boundary between Ontario and New York
2. waterfall in Canada is the Horseshoe Falls; in the United States it is the American Falls