cyclostrophic

[ sahy-kluh-strof-ik, -stroh-fik, sik-le- ]

adjective

, Meteorology.

1. pertaining to atmospheric motion in which the centripetal acceleration exactly balances the horizontal pressure force.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cyclostrophic¹

1915–20; cyclo- + Late Greek strophikós turned, equivalent to Greek stroph- (variant stem of stréphein to turn) + -ikos -ic; strophe