a very high-speed downward movement of turbulent air in a limited area for a short time. Near the ground it spreads out from its centre with high horizontal velocities
Also called: microburst
downburst in American English
(ˈdaunˌbɜːrst)
noun
a strong downward current of air from a cumulonimbus cloud, often associated with intense thunderstorms
Word origin
[down1 + burst]
Examples of 'downburst' in a sentence
downburst
A downpour of rain and hail was accompanied by a tremendous downburst of wind.