dust devil
a well-developed dust whirl with a diameter of about 10–100 feet (3–30 meters), rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise, common in dry regions on hot, calm afternoons and made visible by the dust, debris, and sand it picks up from the ground: dust devils on average are about 660 feet (200 meters) tall, but some have exceeded a height of 3,280 feet (1 kilometer): We noticed the base of the dust devil following a direct path along the ground, but its uppermost portion was meandering wildly.
Origin of dust devil
1- Also called danc·ing dev·il [dans-ing dev-uhl], /ˈdæns ɪŋ ˈdɛv əl/, dirt dev·il [durt-dev-uhl] /ˈdɜrt ˌdɛv əl/ .
Words Nearby dust devil
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use dust devil in a sentence
Perseverance has seen a number of dust devils and windstorms sweep through Jezero crater as a beautiful reminder of how environments are always changing, even on a dried-up planet like Mars.
See some of the most intriguing photos from NASA’s Perseverance rover so far | Lisa Grossman | August 19, 2021 | Science NewsFar across the mesa a dust devil spun up and writhed away toward the distant hills.
Partners of Chance | Henry Herbert KnibbsThen he wheeled like a sudden dust-devil and decamped in a cloud of dust, followed at full pelt by his clattering escort.
Rung Ho! | Talbot MundyPerchance, for no mere erratic “dust-devil” is yonder cloud.
Aletta | Bertram MitfordYour enemy comes upon you like a dust-devil—he appears, strikes, wins or loses, and then disappears again as suddenly as he came.
On the Heels of De Wet | The Intelligence Officer
That's a 'dust devil,' and there's a half dozen more whirling in our direction.
The Texan Star | Joseph A. Altsheler
British Dictionary definitions for dust devil
a strong miniature whirlwind that whips up dust, litter, leaves, etc into the air
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
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