turbulence

[tur-byuh-luh ns]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR turbulence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality or state of being turbulent; violent disorder or commotion.

Hydraulics. the haphazard secondary motion caused by eddies within a moving fluid.

Meteorology. irregular motion of the atmosphere, as that indicated by gusts and lulls in the wind.

Nearby words

Sometimes tur·bu·len·cy.

Origin of turbulence

From the Late Latin word turbulentia, dating back to 1590–1600. See turbulent, -ence

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for turbulence

Turbulence begins, and the only thing in the world we want is to not be on this damn plane.
The Malaysian Air Tragedy Reawakens a Primal Fear|Kelly Williams Brown|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I saw two fold-out seats used by flight attendants during takeoff, landing and turbulence.
The National-Security Diaper Scramble|Philip Shishkin|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is also the vital and complex relationship with China during a time of turbulence and transition.
Obama’s Second-Term National Security To-Do List|P.J. Crowley|November 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He concluded that turbulence, and possibly icing, “created the initial problem that led to a failure cascade.”
Air France 447 Report: How the Plane Went Down|Clive Irving|July 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST

When the turbulence starts I can almost cry, because for me that would be the worst way to die.
The Year’s Grossest Film|Marlow Stern|October 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
But these being only of wood, had been swept away by the turbulence of the water.
The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. I. (of V.)|Margaret, Queen Of Navarre
With the death of Sitting Bull, turbulence among371 the Indians, important enough to be called resistance, came to an end.
The Last American Frontier|Frederic L. (Frederic Logan) Paxson
It has its evils, too; the principal of which is the turbulence to which it is subject.
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson
In an instant the sluggish waters are in turbulence and foam.
Reptiles and Birds|Louis Figuier
The great northern null was in turbulence again, thrusting its shapeless arms down toward the borders of Kira Barra.
The Weakling|Everett B. Cole

British Dictionary definitions for turbulence

turbulence

rarely turbulency (ˈtɜːbjʊˌlənsɪ)

noun

a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation; disorder

meteorol local instability in the atmosphere, oceans, or rivers

turbulent flow in a liquid or gas

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

Word Origin and History for turbulence

turbulence

1590s; see turbulent + -ence.

Science definitions for turbulence

turbulence

[tûr′byə-ləns]

Chaotic or unstable eddying motion in a fluid. Avoiding excessive turbulence generated around moving objects (such as airplanes), which can make their motion inefficient and difficult to control, is a major factor in aerodynamic design.

turbulence

noun

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Origin of turbulence

Examples from the Web for turbulence

turbulence

rarely turbulency (ˈtɜːbjʊˌlənsɪ)

noun

turbulence

turbulence