a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
Also called violent storm .Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 meters per second).
a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
a heavy or sudden volley or discharge: a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
a violent outburst or outbreak of expression: a storm of applause.
Informal. storm window.
verb (used without object)
(of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., especially with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject): It stormed all day.
to rage or complain with violence or fury: He stormed angrily at me.
to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery: The troops stormed against the garrison.
to rush to an assault or attack: The tanks stormed towards the city.
to rush angrily: to storm out of a room.
verb (used with object)
to subject to or as if to a storm: The salesman stormed them with offers.
to utter or say with angry vehemence: The strikers stormed their demands.
to attack or assault (persons, places, or things): to storm a fortress.
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Idioms for storm
storm in a teacup. teacup (def. 3).
Origin of storm
First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch storm, German Sturm, Old Norse stormr; (verb) Middle English stormen, derivative of the noun (compare obsolete sturme,Middle English sturmen, Old English styrman, denominative verb from the same Germanic base as storm ); akin to stir1
Some of the most damaging storms to hit North America bear these names.
Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them|Alison Pearce Stevens|September 17, 2020|Science News For Students
Five days after those lightning storms set California on fire, the flames reached his home in the Santa Cruz Mountains and burned it to ashes.
Suppressing fires has failed. Here’s what California needs to do instead.|James Temple|September 17, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Hurricane season stretches into November, which means we have at least another month and of storms.
A nearly unprecedented cluster of tropical storms are brewing in the Atlantic|Sara Chodosh|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
Although both of these storms should turn north well short of the continental United States, there is some concern about Paulette reaching Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane by early next week.
It’s the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the tropics are bonkers|Eric Berger|September 10, 2020|Ars Technica
Meanwhile, most teachers, students, and parents are essentially waiting for the storm to pass.
Why Can’t Schools Get What the N.F.L. Has? (Ep. 431)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 10, 2020|Freakonomics
The fear that Pascal might weather the storm has Du Vernay, Oprah Winfrey, and other Hollywood elites pulling their punches.
The Disaster Story That Hollywood Had Coming|Doug McIntyre|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Random House is also covering the legal fees of an innocent man called Barry who was caught up in the storm.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rather than storm the hospital, Tyreese says, the group should take a couple of cops hostage then set up a trade with Dawn.
The Walking Dead’s ‘Crossed’: The Stage Is Now Set for a Bloody, Deadly Midseason Finale|Melissa Leon|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ann is only one of many “hurricane conspirators” who believe the storm has changed everything.
Richard Ford’s Artful Survivalist Guide: The Return of Frank Bascombe|Tom LeClair|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But minor offenders are caught in the storm as well, and can face hefty punishment.
Chinese Getting Hooked on the Middle East's Favorite Drug|Brendon Hong|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now that the storm was over, it was a pure and innocent happiness to be with him.
The White Sister|F. Marion Crawford
They may be gathering to cross the river and storm the fort.'
Beyond the Black River|Robert E. Howard
We were just about drowned and stunned, and when we came to ourselves it was because the storm had passed over.
Bunyip Land|George Manville Fenn
On the contrary, it is almost directly favourable, but the question is whether they would venture out at all in such a storm.
A Canadian Heroine, Volume 2|Mrs. Harry Coghill
I have often thought of you with anxiety, and wished to know how you weathered the storm, and into what port you had retired.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson
British Dictionary definitions for storm
storm
/ (stɔːm) /
noun
a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc
(as modifier)storm signal; storm sail
(in combination)stormproof
meteorola violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph
a strong or violent reactiona storm of protest
a direct assault on a stronghold
a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles
short for storm window (def. 1)
storm in a teacupBritisha violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matterUS equivalent: tempest in a teapot
take by storm
to capture or overrun by a violent assault
to overwhelm and enthral
verb
to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently
(intr)to be vociferously angry
(intr)to move or rush violently or angrily
(intr; with it as subject)to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning
Derived forms of storm
stormlike, adjective
Word Origin for storm
Old English, related to Old Norse stormr, German Sturm; see stir1