microburst

[ mahy-kruh-burst ]

/ ˈmaɪ krəˌbɜrst /

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See synonyms for microburst on Thesaurus.com

noun Meteorology.

an intense, localized downdraft of air that spreads on the ground, causing rapid changes in wind direction and speed; a localized downburst.

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Origin of microburst

First recorded in 1980–85; micro- + burst

Words nearby microburst

microblogging, microbrew, microbrewery, microbubble, microbubbles, microburst, microbus, micro-cap, microcapsule, microcassette, microcelebrity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use microburst in a sentence

The unstable air fueled intense but short-lived storm updrafts that quickly paved the way for torrential downpours, concentrated cloud-to-ground lightning and the microbursts.
D.C. braces for second night of storms after deadly lightning strike|Jason Samenow, Jeffrey Halverson|August 5, 2022|Washington Post
Supercell storms may also draw down momentum from the fast winds aloft to the ground, creating localized pockets of straight-line wind damage, or microbursts, as noted above.
Severe weather threat ends after damaging tornado in Annapolis|Jason Samenow, Jeffrey Halverson, Matthew Cappucci|September 1, 2021|Washington Post

British Dictionary definitions for microburst

microburst

/ (ˈmaɪkrəʊˌbɜːst) /

noun

another name for downburst

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

Scientific definitions for microburst

microburst

[ mī′krō-bûrst′ ]

A sudden, violent downdraft of air over a small area (less than 16 sq km or 6.24 sq mi) that lasts at least 25 minutes. Microbursts can cause winds with speeds as high as 270 km (167 mi) per hour. They are difficult to detect and predict with standard weather instruments. They are especially hazardous to airplanes during landing or taking off.