tsunami
Americannoun
noun
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a large, often destructive, sea wave produced by a submarine earthquake, subsidence, or volcanic eruption. Sometimes incorrectly called a tidal wave
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a sudden increase in or overwhelming number or volume of
the tsunami of Olympic visitors
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A very large ocean wave that is caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption and often causes extreme destruction when it strikes land. Tsunamis can have heights of up to 30 m (98 ft) and reach speeds of 950 km (589 mi) per hour. They are characterized by long wavelengths of up to 200 km (124 mi) and long periods, usually between 10 and 60 minutes.
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See Note at tidal wave
Other Word Forms
- tsunamic adjective
Etymology
Origin of tsunami
1905–10; < Japanese, equivalent to tsu harbor (earlier tu ) + nami wave
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Martin also thanked Bad Bunny on social media after the show, saying he needed several hours to "process and understand the tsunami of emotions I'm feeling. Thank you."
From BBC
The facility had been offline since Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown.
From Barron's
The facility had been offline since Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.
From Barron's
It would be strange, she said, if someone facing such a "tsunami of negative publicity over such a long time" did not feel they were losing control of their life and destiny.
From BBC
"The Grammys is always showing how hip they are, with what's actually going on with music," he said, noting there'd been an "undeniable tsunami" in the genre over the last five years.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
