1A waterfall — water falling from a height, or the place where it falls; a common natural sight in mountains and tourist spots.
山を登っていくと、大きな滝が現れた。
As we climbed the mountain, a large waterfall appeared before us.
滝の近くはいつも水しぶきで涼しい。
It's always cool near the waterfall because of the spray.
彼は滝に打たれる修行をしたことがある。
He has once undergone ascetic training of standing under a waterfall.
このダムができる前は、ここに小さな滝があったそうだ。
I heard there used to be a small waterfall here before this dam was built.
2An archaic/literary term for a stretch of fast, swirling river current (rapids); found mainly in classical poetry today.
滝つ瀬を舟人が慎重に漕ぎ渡っていく。
The boatman carefully rows across the rushing rapids.