storm

[ stawrm ]
See synonyms for storm on Thesaurus.com
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.

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

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

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

  3. a heavy or sudden volley or discharge: a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.

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

  5. a violent outburst or outbreak of expression: a storm of applause.

  6. 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.

  1. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery: The troops stormed against the garrison.

  2. to rush to an assault or attack: The tanks stormed towards the city.

  3. 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.

  1. to attack or assault (persons, places, or things): to storm a fortress.

Idioms about storm

  1. storm in a teacup. teacup (def. 3).

Origin of storm

1
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 stir1

Other words for storm

Other words from storm

  • stormlike, adjective
  • outstorm, verb (used with object)
  • un·stormed, adjective

Other definitions for Storm (2 of 2)

Storm
[ shtohrm ]

noun
  1. The·o·dore Wold·sen [tey-aw-dawr-vawlt-suhn], /ˈteɪ ɔˌdɔr ˈvɔlt sən/, 1817–88, German poet and novelist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use storm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for storm

storm

/ (stɔːm) /


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

    • (as modifier): storm signal; storm sail

    • (in combination): stormproof

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

  1. a strong or violent reaction: a storm of protest

  2. a direct assault on a stronghold

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

  4. storm in a teacup British a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter: US equivalent: tempest in a teapot

  5. take by storm

    • to capture or overrun by a violent assault

    • to overwhelm and enthral

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

  2. (intr) to be vociferously angry

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

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

Origin of storm

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

Derived forms of storm

  • stormlike, adjective

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 storm

storm

[ stôrm ]


  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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with storm

storm

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.