View synonyms for thunderstorm

thunderstorm

[ thuhn-der-stawrm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a transient storm of lightning and thunder, usually with rain and gusty winds, sometimes with hail or snow, produced by cumulonimbus clouds.

thunderstorm

/ ˈθʌndəˌstɔːm /

a storm caused by strong rising air currents and characterized by thunder and lightning and usually heavy rain or hail

thunderstorm

/ thŭn′dər-stôrm′ /

A storm of heavy rain accompanied by lightning, thunder, wind, and sometimes hail. Thunderstorms occur when moist air near the ground becomes heated, especially in the summer, and rises, forming cumulonimbus clouds that produce precipitation. Electrical charges accumulate at the bases of the clouds until lightning is discharged. Air in the path of the lightning expands as a result of being heated, causing thunder. Thunderstorms can also be caused by temperature changes triggered by volcanic eruptions and forest fires, and they occur with much greater frequency at the equatorial regions than in polar regions.

First recorded in 1645–55; thunder + storm

Strong gusts from a passing thunderstorm had stripped nearly all the flowers from their branches.

It was a mashup of two Spanish words: tronada, which means thunderstorm, and tornar, to turn, to twist, to return.

That afternoon, a thunderstorm moved into Manhattan right before I left the salon, umbrella-less.

Average thunderstorm losses have increased five-fold since 1980.

We know that Flight 447 encountered heavy turbulence associated with a thunderstorm before losing signal.

A fearsome thunderstorm or howling tornado of dust might reveal her fickleness of mood at any moment.

During that night it crossed the Danube, under cover of the terrific thunderstorm which hid the French advance from the Austrians.

"I only hope we won't have a thunderstorm," said Jess to herself, as she shut her tired eyes.

When we had gone another mile a spattering of "overs" began to fall around like the first heavy drops of a thunderstorm.

After the last big thunderstorm he came up to the door where I was sitting and was evidently very much put out about something.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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