Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as the temperature, and if there is wind, rain, sun, etc. Extreme weather is when the weather becomes excessive, such as too much sun or too little rain causing a drought. Do you know the words connected with extreme weather?
Match each word or expression from the box with its definition below. Look up the words in Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and use the information in the entry to help you.
blizzard, dust storm, electrical storm, eye, flash flood, hurricane, sandstorm, thunderstorm, tornado, twister
1. a calm area at the centre of a storm
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eye
2. a column of water that is pulled up from the sea during a storm by a column of air that turns round and round rapidly
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waterspout
3. a violent storm with very strong winds that move in a circle. There is often also a long cloud that is narrower at the bottom than the top
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tornado
4. a snowstorm with very strong winds
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blizzard
5. a storm in a desert in which sand is blown into the air by strong winds
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sandstorm
6. a storm where there is very strong wind but little rain or snow
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windstorm
7. a storm that carries clouds of dust in the wind over a wide area
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duststorm
8. a storm with thunder and lightning and usually very heavy rain
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thunderstorm
9. an informal word for a tornado
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twister
10. a violent storm in which electricity is produced in the atmosphere
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electrical storm
11. a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean
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hurricane
12. a violent tropical storm with very strong winds
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typhoon
13. a sudden flood of water caused by heavy rain
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flash flood
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Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
wind·storm
(wĭnd′stôrm′)
n.
A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
windstorm
(ˈwɪndˌstɔːm)
n
(Physical Geography) a storm consisting of violent winds
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
wind•storm
(ˈwɪndˌstɔrm)
n.
a storm with heavy wind but little or no precipitation.
[1350–1400]
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | windstorm — a storm consisting of violent winds
cyclone — a violent rotating windstorm dust storm, duster, sandstorm, sirocco — a windstorm that lifts up clouds of dust or sand; «it was the kind of duster not experienced in years» storm, violent storm — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning tempest — (literary) a violent wind; «a tempest swept over the island» whirlwind — a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
: a storm marked by high wind with little or no precipitation
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Last year, a fierce windstorm swept through Claremont, downing some 300 trees.
—
Tilly Macalister-smith Mary Holland Dana Covit Mary Holland Kurt Soller Sara Lieberman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023
Forecasters said that if possible stay in the lowest level of your home during a windstorm like you would during severe thunderstorms or tornadoes.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 24 Jan. 2023
Two Iditarod mushers who had their finishing places in the 2022 race lowered as a penalty for sheltering their dogs indoors during a windstorm have had their initial finishes reinstated following a decision by an appeals board that imposed fines on the mushers instead.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 12 May 2022
In the Monterey Bay region, a severe windstorm located over the ocean blasted Santa Cruz County with wind gusts up to 80 mph (129 kph) at midday.
—Martha Mendoza, ajc, 22 Mar. 2023
In the Monterey Bay region, a severe windstorm located over the ocean blasted Santa Cruz County with wind gusts up to 80 mph (129 kph) at midday.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2023
But a ferocious windstorm kicked up, changing his plans.
—Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Mar. 2023
While the warm, dry conditions in recent months generated the fuel for the fire, an unusually strong windstorm helped the blaze spread at breakneck speeds.
—Jason Samenow, Jacob Feuerstein, Becky Bolinger, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Jan. 2022
According to Shulman, the number is relatively low compared with the loss of hundreds of trees in 2011 following a major windstorm.
—Steven Vargasstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘windstorm.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of windstorm was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near windstorm
Cite this Entry
“Windstorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/windstorm. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on windstorm
Last Updated:
9 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Definitions of windstorm
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noun
a storm consisting of violent winds
see moresee less-
types:
- show 8 types…
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cyclone
a violent rotating windstorm
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dust storm, duster, sandstorm, sirocco
a windstorm that lifts up clouds of dust or sand
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tempest
(literary) a violent wind
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whirlwind
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
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dust devil
a miniature whirlwind strong enough to whip dust and leaves and litter into the air
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hurricane
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving a 73-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
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tornado, twister
a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
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typhoon
a tropical cyclone occurring in the western Pacific or Indian oceans
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type of:
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storm, violent storm
a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘windstorm’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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[ wind-stawrm ]
/ ˈwɪndˌstɔrm /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
noun
a storm with heavy wind but little or no precipitation.
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Origin of windstorm
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at wind1, storm
Words nearby windstorm
Windsor knot, Windsor Locks, Windsor rocker, Windsor tie, wind sprint, windstorm, windsucker, wind-sucking, windsurf, windsurfing, wind surge
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to windstorm
How to use windstorm in a sentence
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While some hazards, like windstorms, happen in every region, certain disasters are more common in specific geographic areas.
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The pioneer climbed up a lanky Douglas spruce in the middle of a windstorm one December day in 1874 to feel what treetops feel.
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That being said, the sound is big enough that sometimes a big local windstorm can churn out some choppy waves.
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These days it’ll be 120 in September and 95 in January, and we’ll see windstorms and wildfires.
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Five days before we planned to head home, a windstorm knocked out the power.
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Sinai Field Mission: A man with a large push-broom is sweeping sand off a road in a windstorm.
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Since it was only a windstorm, there was no rain to wash the air clean of the lethal dust.
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Shortly after our return to the farm the wind began again to rise, and another terrific windstorm blew over the land.
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A more terrific windstorm than all those I had seen before, arose during the night.
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I wished it had been forty or forty-five, for instead of a windstorm we should then have had glorious still weather.
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What will become of me in this terrific windstorm, in the midst of these great towering mountains that surround me on every side?
British Dictionary definitions for windstorm
noun
a storm consisting of violent winds
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
Scientific definitions for windstorm
A storm with high winds or violent gusts but little or no rain. Winds with speeds up to 241 km (149 mi) per hour have been recorded during windstorms. See also tornado.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.