downburst

American  

[doun-burst] / ˈdaʊnˌbɜrst /

noun

1. a strong downward current of air from a cumulonimbus cloud, often associated with intense thunderstorms.

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downburst British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌbɜːst /

noun

1. Also called: microburst.  a very high-speed downward movement of turbulent air in a limited area for a short time. Near the ground it spreads out from its centre with high horizontal velocities

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downburst Scientific  

/ doun′bûrst′ /

1. An extremely powerful downward air current from a cumulonimbus cloud, typically associated with thunderstorm activity. Downbursts can produce effects that resemble those brought about by tornadoes.

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Etymology

Origin of downburst

down ¹ + burst

Example Sentences

A downburst is a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm, spreading out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2024

Trees falling in on each other indicate a tornado, whereas trees falling in the same direction indicate a downburst.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2023

“What happens when a thunder cell collapses is, it spits out a downburst of wind that is totally erratic, and those downbursts can affect fires from a long ways away,” Freeman said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2021

To picture a downburst, imagine turning on a tap: The water falls fast, and when it hits the sink, it spreads out.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2015

Lightning, wind shear and "downburst," a phenomenon in which a huge column of air suddenly surges toward earth from thunderclouds at high velocity, were the prime suspects.

From Time Magazine Archive