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squall1 definition

squall (skwôl)

noun

  1. a brief, violent windstorm, usually with rain or snow
  2. Informal trouble or disturbance

Etymology: < Scand, as in Swed sqval, a sudden shower, downpour: for prob. base see squall

intransitive verb

to storm briefly; blow a squall

Related Forms:

squall2 definition

squall (skwôl)

intransitive verb, transitive verb

to cry or scream loudly and harshly

Etymology: < ON skvala, to cry out, yell: see squeal

noun

a harsh, shrill cry or loud scream

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

squall Synonyms

squall

n.

blast, gust, gale, brief gale, tempest, blow*, restricted storm; see also storm 1.


squall

v.

yell, whine, whimper; see cry 3.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

squall Usage Examples

Object

  • guitar: With its thick, squalling guitar it sounds more like a précis of the full version that we know and love.

Converse of object

  • pass: Only now, as it grows dark, do we realize that they were just passing squalls.

Converse of subject

  • hit: We were sailing along quite happily in a good force 4 when we were hit by a squall.

Adjective modifier

  • sudden: In many harbor areas or at the mouths of large river systems, these summer afternoon or evening breezes give rise to sudden squalls.

Modifies a noun

  • line: Squall line 1840 with 5 mm hail turning to heavy snow.

Noun used with modifier

  • rain: The great lagoon was making its own weather: in the far eastern corner there were gray pillars of a rain squall.

Preposition: of

  • rain: By 29 October 2000, the winds had gusted to Gale Force 8 and even Storm Force 10, with squalls of heavy rain.
squall usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"squall." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/squall>

APA Style

squall. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/squall

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