A tornado is a violent wind storm consisting of a tall column of air which spins round very fast and causes a lot of damage.
Synonyms: whirlwind, storm, hurricane, gale More Synonyms of tornado
tornado in British English
(tɔːˈneɪdəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-does or -dos
1. Also called: cyclone or (US and Canadian informal) twister
a violent storm with winds whirling around a small area of extremely low pressure, usually characterized by a dark funnel-shaped cloud causing damage along its path
2.
a small but violent squall or whirlwind, such as those occurring on the West African coast
3.
any violently active or destructive person or thing
4. (often capital)
a type of dinghy, designed to be crewed by two people
Derived forms
tornadic (tɔːˈnædɪk)
adjective
tornado-like (torˈnado-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C16: probably alteration of Spanish tronada thunderstorm (from tronar to thunder, from Latin tonāre), through influence of tornar to turn, from Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe
tornado in American English
(tɔrˈneɪdoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluraltorˈnadoes or torˈnados
1. US
a violently whirling column of air, with wind speeds of about 100 to 300 miles per hour, extending downward from a cumulonimbus cloud, esp. in Australia and the central U.S.: usually appearing as a rapidly rotating, slender, funnel-shaped cloud and typically causing great destruction along its narrow path
2.
in W Africa and the adjacent Atlantic, a severe thundersquall
3.
any whirlwind or hurricane
Derived forms
tornadic (torˈnadic) (tɔrˈnædɪk) US
adjective
Word origin
altered (prob. based on Sp tornar, to turn) < Sp tronada, thunder, thunderstorm < tronar, to thunder < L tonare, to thunder
tornado in Insurance
(tɔrneɪdoʊ)
Word forms: (plural) tornadoes
noun
(Insurance: Residence insurance)
A tornado is a violent wind storm consisting of a tall column of air that spins around veryfast and causes a lot of damage.
They filed their claim, stating that their home was leveled by hurricane-force winds,which caused a tornado, which was followed by flooding.
The storms produced tornadoes, which caused damage to both automobiles and homes.
A tornado is a violent wind storm consisting of a tall column of air that spins around veryfast and causes a lot of damage.
Events that cause damage to propertyearthquakefloodlandslidesubsidencetornadotsunami
Examples of 'tornado' in a sentence
tornado
More storms and tornados are expected this weekend.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are also stories of cats running around frantically before hurricanes or tornados.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are many other strange accounts of tornado damage throughout history.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are many stories of animals growing restless before tornados, storms and earthquakes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Tornado wind speeds can reach 120mph.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I have written before about Union and its recent tornado damage.
Christianity Today (2000)
Freak weather, including hurricanes and tornados, becomes more common.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But it avoided any impact by some of the larger claims in 2015 including tornado damage in the US.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
tornado
Weather phenomena
In other languages
tornado
British English: tornado /tɔːˈneɪdəʊ/ NOUN
A tornado is a violent storm with strong circular winds.
American English: tornado
Arabic: إِعْصَارٌ قُمْعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: tornado
Chinese: 龙卷风
Croatian: tornado
Czech: tornádo
Danish: tornado
Dutch: tornado
European Spanish: tornado
Finnish: pyörremyrsky
French: tornade
German: Tornado
Greek: σίφουνας
Italian: tornado
Japanese: 竜巻
Korean: 토네이도
Norwegian: tornado
Polish: tornado
European Portuguese: tornado
Romanian: tornadă
Russian: торнадо
Latin American Spanish: tornado
Swedish: tromb
Thai: พายุทอร์นาโด
Turkish: kasırga
Ukrainian: торнадо
Vietnamese: cơn lốc xoáy
Chinese translation of 'tornado'
tornado
(tɔːˈneɪdəu)
Word forms:pltornadoes
n(c)
飓(颶)风(風) (jùfēng) (场(場), chǎng)
(noun)
Definition
a rapidly whirling column of air, usually characterized by a dark funnel-shaped cloud causing damage along its path
The tornado tossed homes around like litter.
Synonyms
whirlwind
They scattered like leaves in a whirlwind.
storm
the violent storms which whipped America's East Coast
hurricane
Homes have been destroyed in the hurricane's destructive path.
gale
forecasts of fierce gales over the next few days
cyclone
The cyclone brought down power and phone lines.
typhoon
She had to endure being in a typhoon for 67 hours.
tempest (literary)
torrential rain and howling tempest
squall
The boat was hit by a squall north of the island.
twister (US, informal)
windstorm
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cyclone
Definition
a violent tropical storm
The cyclone brought down power and phone lines.
Synonyms
typhoon,
hurricane,
tornado,
whirlwind,
tempest (literary),
twister (US, informal),
storm
in the sense of gale
Definition
a strong wind, specifically one of force 8 on the Beaufort scale
forecasts of fierce gales over the next few days
Synonyms
storm,
hurricane,
tornado,
cyclone,
whirlwind,
blast,
gust,
typhoon,
tempest (literary),
squall
in the sense of hurricane
Definition
a severe, often destructive storm, esp. a tropical cyclone
Homes have been destroyed in the hurricane's destructive path.
Synonyms
storm,
gale,
tornado,
cyclone,
typhoon,
tempest (literary),
twister (US, informal),
windstorm,
willy-willy (Australian)
Synonyms of 'tornado'
tornado
Explore 'tornado' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of squall
Definition
to cry noisily
The boat was hit by a squall north of the island.
Synonyms
storm,
gale,
flurry,
blow,
rush,
blast,
breeze,
puff,
gust
in the sense of storm
Definition
a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, etc.
the violent storms which whipped America's East Coast
Synonyms
tempest (literary),
blast,
hurricane,
gale,
tornado,
cyclone,
blizzard,
whirlwind,
gust,
squall
in the sense of tempest
Definition
a violent wind or storm
torrential rain and howling tempest
Synonyms
storm,
hurricane,
gale,
tornado,
cyclone,
typhoon,
squall
in the sense of typhoon
Definition
a violent tropical storm, esp. one in the China Seas or W Pacific
She had to endure being in a typhoon for 67 hours.