storm
a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
Also called violent storm .Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 meters per second).
a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
a heavy or sudden volley or discharge: a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
a violent outburst or outbreak of expression: a storm of applause.
Informal. storm window.
(of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., especially with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject): It stormed all day.
to rage or complain with violence or fury: He stormed angrily at me.
to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery: The troops stormed against the garrison.
to rush to an assault or attack: The tanks stormed towards the city.
to rush angrily: to storm out of a room.
to subject to or as if to a storm: The salesman stormed them with offers.
to utter or say with angry vehemence: The strikers stormed their demands.
to attack or assault (persons, places, or things): to storm a fortress.
Idioms about storm
storm in a teacup. teacup (def. 3).
Origin of storm
1Other words for storm
Other words from storm
- stormlike, adjective
- outstorm, verb (used with object)
- un·stormed, adjective
Words Nearby storm
Other definitions for Storm (2 of 2)
The·o·dore Wold·sen [tey-aw-dawr-vawlt-suhn], /ˈteɪ ɔˌdɔr ˈvɔlt sən/, 1817–88, German poet and novelist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use storm in a sentence
Some of the most damaging storms to hit North America bear these names.
Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them | Alison Pearce Stevens | September 17, 2020 | Science News For StudentsFive days after those lightning storms set California on fire, the flames reached his home in the Santa Cruz Mountains and burned it to ashes.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead. | James Temple | September 17, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewHurricane season stretches into November, which means we have at least another month and of storms.
A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic | Sara Chodosh | September 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceAlthough both of these storms should turn north well short of the continental United States, there is some concern about Paulette reaching Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane by early next week.
It’s the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the tropics are bonkers | Eric Berger | September 10, 2020 | Ars TechnicaMeanwhile, most teachers, students, and parents are essentially waiting for the storm to pass.
Why Can’t Schools Get What the N.F.L. Has? (Ep. 431) | Stephen J. Dubner | September 10, 2020 | Freakonomics
The Perfect storm writer talks combat brotherhood and the threat posed by growing wealth inequality.
Sebastian Junger on War, Loss, and a Divided America | The Daily Beast Video | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe fear that Pascal might weather the storm has Du Vernay, Oprah Winfrey, and other Hollywood elites pulling their punches.
Random House is also covering the legal fees of an innocent man called Barry who was caught up in the storm.
But so many years later, I still get a tense feeling in my stomach when I see a strong storm approaching.
Heed the Warnings: Why We’re on the Brink of Mass Extinction | Sean B. Carroll | November 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRather than storm the hospital, Tyreese says, the group should take a couple of cops hostage then set up a trade with Dawn.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason Finale | Melissa Leon | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThis treacherous sort of calm, we thought, might forbode a storm, and we did not allow it to lull us into security.
It was depressing to think of going to bed in such circumstances with the yelling of an Arctic storm for a lullaby.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneThe storm, however, was over; the moon and stars were shining in a clear sky, and the aurora was dancing merrily.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneWhile the fortress was undermining at home, they were not idle, who were preparing to storm it from abroad.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
British Dictionary definitions for storm
/ (stɔːm) /
a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc
(as modifier): storm signal; storm sail
(in combination): stormproof
meteorol a violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph
a strong or violent reaction: a storm of protest
a direct assault on a stronghold
a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles
short for storm window (def. 1)
storm in a teacup British a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter: US equivalent: tempest in a teapot
take by storm
to capture or overrun by a violent assault
to overwhelm and enthral
to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently
(intr) to be vociferously angry
(intr) to move or rush violently or angrily
(intr; with it as subject) to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning
Origin of storm
1Derived forms of storm
- stormlike, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for storm
[ stôrm ]
A low-pressure atmospheric disturbance resulting in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.
A wind with a speed from 103 to 117 km (64 to 73 mi) per hour, rating 11 on the Beaufort scale.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with storm
see any port in a storm; kick up a fuss (storm); ride out (the storm); take by storm; weather the storm.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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