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

Bavi will be the 11th category four or five tropical cyclone to hit US territory in the past decade - one more than the total recorded in the prior 57 years.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 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

She and her colleagues have argued that a geostationary satellite equipped with the right infrared imaging technology could potentially monitor gravity waves continuously and provide new insights into tropical cyclone development.

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