TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
INSTABILITY SIGN [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2009-01-12
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- shooting crack
1, record 1, English, shooting%20crack
correct, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Shooting cracks indicate an instability within the snowpack. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee.] 1, record 1, English, - shooting%20crack
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Shooting cracks extending from your ski tips are a sign of instability. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. ] 1, record 1, English, - shooting%20crack
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Shooting cracks are cracks that form and propagate on the snowpack due to disturbances. A shooting crack could extend from ski tips, footsteps, snowmobile tracks, etc. 1, record 1, English, - shooting%20crack
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
shooting crack: term officially approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. 2, record 1, English, - shooting%20crack
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- fissure
1, record 1, French, fissure
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les fissures sont un signe d'instabilité du manteau neigeux. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.] 1, record 1, French, - fissure
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Les fissures qui se forment devant les skis sont un signe d'instabilité. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.] 1, record 1, French, - fissure
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
fissure : terme uniformisé par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche. 2, record 1, French, - fissure
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Fissures qui se développent, se forment, se propagent. 1, record 1, French, - fissure
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2006-08-30
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- whumpfing
1, record 2, English, whumpfing
correct, see observation, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Whumpfing is a sign of instability. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. ] 1, record 2, English, - whumpfing
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Although the spelling "whumphing" is correct, it is not the preferred spelling in the avalanche world. The spellings "wumphing", "wumping" and "whumping" are used but they are not considered correct. 1, record 2, English, - whumpfing
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
whumpfing: term officially approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. 2, record 2, English, - whumpfing
Record 2, Key term(s)
- wumphing
- wumping
- whumping
- whumphing
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- whoumf
1, record 2, French, whoumf
correct, see observation, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les whoumfs sont un indice d'instabilité. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.] 1, record 2, French, - whoumf
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Pour éviter toute confusion, éviter les graphies «whumpf», «whump» et «whoumpf». 1, record 2, French, - whoumf
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
whoumf : terme uniformisé par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche. 2, record 2, French, - whoumf
Record 2, Key term(s)
- whumpf
- whump
- whoumpf
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2006-08-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- sign of instability
1, record 3, English, sign%20of%20instability
correct, officially approved
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Shooting cracks extending from your ski tips are a sign of instability. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. ] 1, record 3, English, - sign%20of%20instability
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
sign of instability : term officially approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee. 2, record 3, English, - sign%20of%20instability
Record 3, Key term(s)
- instability sign
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- indice d'instabilité
1, record 3, French, indice%20d%27instabilit%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les fissures qui se forment devant vos skis sont un indice d'instabilité. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.] 1, record 3, French, - indice%20d%27instabilit%C3%A9
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
indice d'instabilité : terme uniformisé par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche. 2, record 3, French, - indice%20d%27instabilit%C3%A9
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


