tropical cyclone

American  

[trop-i-kuhl sahy-klohn] / ˈtrɒp ɪ kəl ˈsaɪ kloʊn /

noun

Meteorology.

1. a warm-core cyclone that originates over a tropical ocean area, generally beginning as a tropical depression and having the potential to intensify and develop into a hurricane or typhoon, classifications that depend on where the storm is occurring.

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tropical cyclone Scientific  

/ trŏp′ĭ-kəl /

1. See under cyclone

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Etymology

Origin of tropical cyclone

First recorded in 1915–20

Compare meaning

How does tropical-cyclone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tropical cyclone vs. hurricane
• tropical cyclone vs. tropical storm

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tropical cyclone

The researchers identified four characteristics that can help determine whether a tilted tropical cyclone is likely to straighten vertically.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

However, the institute said that the weather pattern could influence tropical cyclone activity in the central and east Pacific and could change the risk of floods, wildfires and other extreme weather elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

"With space weather in particular," Holt added, "a single event such as a tropical cyclone can be very important."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026

It comes 10 days after tropical cyclone Fytia killed 14 and displaced over 31,000 people, according to the UN's humanitarian office.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

My mind spun like the vortex of a tropical cyclone.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd