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tornado
[ tawr-ney-doh ]
noun
- Meteorology. a potentially violent and destructive system of atmospheric circulation, characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris: although tornadoes have occurred on all continents except Antarctica, they are most common in the United States, especially in the area known as Tornado Alley. Compare waterspout ( def 3 ).
- Meteorology. a violent squall or whirlwind of small extent, as one of those occurring during the summer on the west coast of Africa.
- a violent outburst, as of emotion or activity:
The weekly tornado has arrived—in the form of my three grandchildren and their two dogs.
- Tornado, Military. a supersonic, two-seat, multipurpose military aircraft produced jointly by West Germany, Britain, and Italy and capable of flying in darkness and bad weather.
tornado
/ tɔːˈneɪdəʊ; tɔːˈnædɪk /
noun
- Also calledcycloneUS and Canadian informaltwister a violent storm with winds whirling around a small area of extremely low pressure, usually characterized by a dark funnel-shaped cloud causing damage along its path
- a small but violent squall or whirlwind, such as those occurring on the West African coast
- any violently active or destructive person or thing
- often capital a type of dinghy, designed to be crewed by two people
tornado
/ tôr-nā′dō /
- A violently rotating column of air extending from a cumulonimbus cloud to the Earth, ranging in width from a few meters to more than a kilometer and whirling at speeds between 64 km (40 mi) and 509 km (316 mi) per hour or higher with comparable updrafts in the center of the vortex. The vortex may contain several smaller vortices rotating within it. Tornadoes typically take the form of a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from storm clouds, often reaching the ground, and dissolving into thin, ropelike clouds as the tornado dissipates. Tornadoes may travel from a few dozen meters to hundreds of kilometers along the ground. Tornadoes usually form in the tail end of violent thunderstorms, with weaker funnels sometimes forming in groups along a leading squall line of an advancing cold front or in areas near a hurricane . The strongest tornadoes, which may last several hours and travel hundreds of kilometers, can cause massive destruction in a relatively narrow strip along their path. The causes of tornado formation are not well understood.
tornado
- In meteorology , a storm in which high-speed winds move in a funnel-shaped pattern.
Notes
Derived Forms
- torˈnado-ˌlike, adjective
- tornadic, adjective
Other Words From
- tor·nad·ic [tawr-, nad, -ik, -, ney, -dik], adjective
- tor·na·do·like adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of tornado1
Word History and Origins
Origin of tornado1
Example Sentences
Some described what they had seen as a "tornado".
It brought widespread impacts including a destructive storm surge and an outbreak of 46 tornadoes.
While the wealthy United States is better prepared than many other places, excessive heat nevertheless kills more people than all other weather-related causes combined, including hurricanes, tornadoes and floods.
Like a tornado touching down on dusty ground, the deepest extent of the vortex stirs up the hazy atmosphere to create the dense spots Wong and Tsubota observed.
Many of the Powell lookalikes impersonated the actor's recent roles in "Twisters" – as a cocky tornado chaser – and "Top Gun: Maverick" – as a cocky pilot.
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