hurricane

American  

[hur-i-keyn, huhr-, -kuhn] / ˈhɜr ɪˌkeɪn, ˈhʌr-, -kən /

noun

• hurricanes
  plural

1. Meteorology. a tropical cyclone of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or eastern Pacific Ocean, having sustained wind speeds of at least 64 knots (74 miles per hour, 33 meters per second): hurricanes form in waters with surface temperatures of about 80°F (27°C), intensifying as temperatures rise.

2. anything characterized by a turmoil of force or activity, suggestive of a hurricane.

   As our helicopter got closer to the canyon, a hurricane of wild horses took off in all directions, kicking up clouds of dust that impaired the pilot’s vision.

3. Military. Hurricane, a single-seat British fighter plane of World War II, fitted with eight .303 caliber machine guns and with a top speed in excess of 300 miles per hour (480 kilometers per hour).

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hurricane British  

/ ˈhʌrɪkən, -keɪn /

noun

1. a severe, often destructive storm, esp a tropical cyclone

2. 1. a wind of force 12 or above on the Beaufort scale

   2. ( as modifier )

      a wind of hurricane force

3. anything acting like such a wind

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hurricane Scientific  

/ hûr′ĭ-kān′ /

1. A severe, rotating tropical storm with heavy rains and cyclonic winds exceeding 74 mi (119 km) per hour, especially such a storm occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. Hurricanes originate in the tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean or the Caribbean Sea and move generally northward. They lose force when they move over land or colder ocean waters.

2. See Note at cyclone

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hurricane Cultural  

1. A large tropical storm system with high-powered circular winds. (See cyclone and eye of a hurricane.)

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Usage

What’s the difference between a hurricane, a cyclone, and a typhoon? Hurricane, cyclone, and typhoon are all terms for big storms. Although the word cyclone is often used to refer to a big storm, it is, technically speaking, a large-scale, atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure at its center and by circular wind motion. Because these generally produce clouds and precipitation, cyclones are often simply referred to as storms. When such storms form around the tropics, they are called tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones are classified based on their strength. They may start as tropical depressions and progress to tropical storms. The most severe tropical cyclones—those with winds of 74 mph (119 k/mh) or more—are called hurricanes or typhoons. Which term is used depends on where the storm occurs. Generally, storms that form over the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico are called hurricanes, while those that form over the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons. (The word hurricane is sometimes used for storms that form over the eastern or central North Pacific Ocean.)Cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. hurricane vs. tornadoHurricanes are essentially massive, spinning formations of multiple thunderstorms, while tornadoes are rotating funnel clouds formed from a single storm—and only over land. Tornadoes can form from the thunderstorms that make up a hurricane, but they more commonly form from single thunderstorms. Tornadoes are much, much smaller in scale than hurricanes. cyclone vs. tornadoIn casual use, the word cyclone is sometimes used to refer to a tornado (but it is not used this way in scientific contexts). Here’s an example of hurricane, cyclone, and typhoon used correctly in a sentence. Example: There have been many devastating cyclones this season, including a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and multiple typhoons in the Pacific. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons.

Discover More

Between July and October, hurricanes cause extensive damage along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. (See Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.)

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hurricanes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hurricane

First recorded in 1545–55; earlier furacan, hurricano, uracan, from Spanish huracán and Portuguese furacão, from Taíno huracán, furacán

Compare meaning

How does hurricane compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tropical storm vs. hurricane
• typhoon vs. hurricane
• cyclone vs. hurricane
• tsunami vs. hurricane
• tropical cyclone vs. hurricane

Explanation

A hurricane is a severe tropical storm with high winds and heavy rain. When a hurricane comes through your town, you should board up the windows and stay inside. Hurricanes have sustained winds that rotate in a circle, which is why they are often referred to as cyclones. The worst hurricane in recent years in America was Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005 and devastated the city. The word hurricane comes from the Spanish word huracan. Interestingly, the Old English dictionary has 39 spellings for the word based on English-Spanish-Portuguese hybrids.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hurricane hurricanes

“This results in increased levels of Atlantic vertical wind shear,” according to Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane forecaster at Colorado State University.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

El Niño makes a more active hurricane season in the eastern Pacific more likely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

But the rest of it feels ominous, like waiting for a Category 6 hurricane.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The damage occurred after a Los Angeles coastal flooding warning was issued linked to Tropical Storm Marie, which was previously a hurricane.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

The giant, mythical hurricane that would destroy the entire southeast coast of Florida.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

The waters of the Pacific Ocean have been unsettled in recent weeks by a series of tropical storms, with some of them developing into hurricanes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

This Sept. 2 satellite photo shows hurricanes Lowell, Karina and Marie over the Pacific Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

To date, no hurricanes have formed in the basin, despite this week marking the peak of the season on average - and there's no sign of development in the near future.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Researchers say that more attention needs to be placed on the threat of tropical cyclones — a term that includes hurricanes and tropical storms — to Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

“And how many hurricanes have you been in?”

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

Related Words

• cyclone
• gale
• monsoon
• storm
• tornado
• twister