storm

¹

[stawrm]

noun

1. a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.

   Synonyms: blizzard, wind, squall, cyclone, tornado, tempest, hurricane, gale

2. a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.

3. Also called violent storm. Meteorology.,  a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 meters per second).

4. a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.

5. a heavy or sudden volley or discharge.

   a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.

6. a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.

7. a violent outburst or outbreak of expression.

   a storm of applause.

8. Informal.,  storm window.

verb (used without object)

1. (of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., especially with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject).

   It stormed all day.

2. to rage or complain with violence or fury.

   He stormed angrily at me.

3. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery.

   The troops stormed against the garrison.

4. to rush to an assault or attack.

   The tanks stormed towards the city.

5. to rush angrily.

   to storm out of a room.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to or as if to a storm.

   The salesman stormed them with offers.

2. to utter or say with angry vehemence.

   The strikers stormed their demands.

3. to attack or assault (persons, places, or things).

   to storm a fortress.

Storm

²

[shtohrm]

noun

1. Theodore Woldsen 1817–88, German poet and novelist.

storm

/ stɔːm /

noun

1. 1. a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      storm signal

      storm sail

   3. ( in combination )

      stormproof

2. meteorol a violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph

3. a strong or violent reaction

   a storm of protest

4. a direct assault on a stronghold

5. a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles

6. short for storm window

7. US equivalent: tempest in a teapot. a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter

8. 1. to capture or overrun by a violent assault

   2. to overwhelm and enthral

verb

1. to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently

2. (intr) to be vociferously angry

3. (intr) to move or rush violently or angrily

4. (intr; with it as subject) to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning

storm

1. A low-pressure atmospheric disturbance resulting in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.

2. A wind with a speed from 103 to 117 km (64 to 73 mi) per hour, rating 11 on the Beaufort scale.

Other Word Forms

• stormlike adjective
• outstorm verb (used with object)
• unstormed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of storm¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch storm, German Sturm, Old Norse stormr; (verb) Middle English stormen, derivative of the noun (compare obsolete sturme, Middle English sturmen, Old English styrman, denominative verb from the same Germanic base as storm ); akin to stir ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of storm¹

Old English, related to Old Norse stormr, German Sturm; see _stir ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. storm in a teacup. teacup.

see any port in a storm; kick up a fuss (storm); ride out (the storm); take by storm; weather the storm.

Example Sentences

A “winter-like” storm will sweep across Southern California late Monday into Wednesday, bringing the chance of “significant” rainfall, the National Weather Service said Sunday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But after Oregon stormed back to beat Penn State in stunning fashion, Franklin proceeded to lose his next two games.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Eyewitnesses said the clashes erupted in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood in southern Gaza City after a Hamas force of more than 300 fighters moved to storm a residential block where Dughmush gunmen were entrenched.

Read more on BBC

Flooding struck the popular holiday island of Ibiza on Saturday for the second time in two weeks as the storm moved east and north into the Mediterranean after drenching southeastern Spain.

Read more on Barron's

Given this is the favoured season, frequent storms like this have "hampered our trekking and mountaineering business," he added.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blizzard 
• cloudburst 
• cyclone 
• disturbance 
• gale 
• hurricane 
• monsoon 
• snowstorm 
• squall 
• tempest