cloudburst

[ kloud-burst ]

noun

1. a sudden and very heavy rainfall.

cloudburst

/ ˈklaʊdˌbɜːst /

noun

1. a heavy downpour

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloudburst¹

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; cloud + burst

Example Sentences

When an Amazon facility lost power in a storm this week, it caused a major cloudburst of its own.

From The Daily Beast

Once black clouds gathered in the distance, to pour out a cloudburst.

From Project Gutenberg

A deep sheet of water swept down from the prairie beyond the town limits to the west, where the rainfall was a cloudburst.

From Project Gutenberg

Before it lay a long descent, a cloudburst, the sunset of a civilization, another night.

From Project Gutenberg

Just a yielding here, a parting there, until the cloudburst precipitated the disaster.

From Project Gutenberg

The first awful effects of the cloudburst were passing, and the water was going down slowly but surely.

From Project Gutenberg