tornado

[tawr-ney-doh]

noun

plural

tornadoes, tornados 

1. Meteorology.,  a potentially violent and destructive system of atmospheric circulation, characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris: although tornadoes have occurred on all continents except Antarctica, they are most common in the United States, especially in the area known as Tornado Alley.

2. Meteorology.,  a violent squall or whirlwind of small extent, as one of those occurring during the summer on the west coast of Africa.

3. a violent outburst, as of emotion or activity.

   The weekly tornado has arrived—in the form of my three grandchildren and their two dogs.

4. Military.,  Tornado, a supersonic, two-seat, multipurpose military aircraft produced jointly by West Germany, Britain, and Italy and capable of flying in darkness and bad weather.

tornado

/ tɔːˈneɪdəʊ, tɔːˈnædɪk /

noun

1. Also called: cyclone.  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

tornado

1. A violently rotating column of air extending from a cumulonimbus cloud to the Earth, ranging in width from a few meters to more than a kilometer and whirling at speeds between 64 km (40 mi) and 509 km (316 mi) per hour or higher with comparable updrafts in the center of the vortex. The vortex may contain several smaller vortices rotating within it. Tornadoes typically take the form of a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from storm clouds, often reaching the ground, and dissolving into thin, ropelike clouds as the tornado dissipates. Tornadoes may travel from a few dozen meters to hundreds of kilometers along the ground. Tornadoes usually form in the tail end of violent thunderstorms, with weaker funnels sometimes forming in groups along a leading squall line of an advancing cold front or in areas near a hurricane. The strongest tornadoes, which may last several hours and travel hundreds of kilometers, can cause massive destruction in a relatively narrow strip along their path. The causes of tornado formation are not well understood.

tornado

1. In meteorology, a storm in which high-speed winds move in a funnel-shaped pattern.

Tornadoes occur chiefly during thunderstorms.

Tornadoes are common in the Middle West.

If the tip of the funnel touches the ground, it can cause extensive damage.

Other Word Forms

• tornado-like adjective
• tornadic adjective
• tornadolike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tornado¹

First recorded in 1550–60; apparently by metathesis from Spanish tronada “thunderstorm,” noun use of feminine of tronado, past participle of tronar, from Latin tonāre “to thunder”; replacing 16th-century ternado, with unexplained e

Word History and Origins

Origin of tornado¹

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

Example Sentences

When the tornado happens, the tech changes hit us like a cyclone.

From Los Angeles Times

Even if the federal government, largely through our taxes, was able to pick up the tab for every tornado, hurricane and wildfire, our current administration has made it clear it does not want to.

From Los Angeles Times

An after-action report by the weather service from the Joplin, Mo., tornado disaster in 2011 found that most residents didn’t immediately head to shelter after hearing the first warning.

From Los Angeles Times

Shelters built to protect people from tornadoes were brandished as “proof” that the prison camps were coming.

From Salon

He said that about six years ago, before he took office, the county had looked into a flood warning system along the river, similar to a tornado warning siren.

From BBC

Related Words

• twister 
• whirlwind 
• windstorm