storm Definition
storm (stôrm)
noun
- an atmospheric disturbance characterized by a strong wind, usually accompanied by rain, snow, sleet, or hail, and, often, thunder and lightning
- any heavy fall of snow, rain, or hail
- anything resembling a storm; specif.,
- a heavy shower or volley of things a storm of bullets
- a strong outburst of emotion, passion, excitement, etc.
- a strong disturbance or upheaval of a political or social nature
- a sudden, strong attack on a fortified place: now mainly in the phrase take by storm, to conquer, overwhelm, or win over suddenly and forcefully
- Meteorol. a wind whose speed is 64 to 72 miles per hour
Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger sturm < IE base *(s)twer-, to whirl, move or turn quickly > stir, L turbare, to agitate
intransitive verb
- to be stormy; blow violently, rain, snow, etc.
- to be violently angry; rage; rant
- to rush or move violently and tumultuously to storm into a room
transitive verb
- to attack or direct something at (someone) in a vigorous or angry outburst to storm a speaker with questions
- to capture or attempt to capture (a fortified place) with a sudden, strong attack
storm Synonyms
storm
n.
A violent disturbance of the elements
tempest, downpour, cloudburst, disturbance, waterspout, blizzard, snowstorm, purga, squall, hurricane, cyclone, tornado, twister, gust, blast, gale, blow, monsoon; see also rain 1, wind 1.An outbreak suggestive of violent weather
anger, agitation, annoyance, commotion, turmoil, violence, perturbation, racket, temper, hubbub, rage, fury, passion, hysteria.
storm Synonyms
storm
v.
To be stormy
blow violently, howl, blow a gale, roar, set in, squall, pour, drizzle, drop, rain, mizzle, spit, lay the dust, patter, rain cats and dogs*, come down in bucketfuls*, breathe fire and fury*, rain pitchforks and hammer-handles*; see also snow.To make a violent attack
attack, charge, rush, assail; see attack 1. See syn. study at attack.
storm Usage Examples
Converse of object
calm: He can walk on water, calm the storms ( natural ones!
Noun used with modifier
- thunder: Had a great thunder storm here on Wednesday night.
- meteor: November 13 th 2001: Leonids 2001 - Another chance to see a meteor storm.
- lightning: By this time the weather was deteriorating rapidly and a lightning storm rolling up the valley.
- hail: Sunday 7th March was a mixed-up day - sunny one moment, a hail storm the next with drizzle now and then for compromise.
- freak: Denial of nature goes hand-in-hand with terms like " freak storm " .
- dust: Is it a herd of elephants kicking up a dust storm, or a giant caldron of maize being cooked?
Adjective modifier
- geomagnetic: This approach results in the identification of some ten to twenty historical geomagnetic storms.
- tropical: Then you wonder why there's another tropical storm approaching the Florida Keys?
- violent: A violent storm suddenly broke out, driving the approaching ships back across the Channel.
- fierce: August 7 th 1924 During a fierce thunder storm a house at Pentlow was struck by lighting.
- severe: A severe storm hit the country in the early hours of Monday 30th October.
Modifies a noun
- surge: This means that there is a third factor that determines the importance of the storm surge - namely the morphology of the shingle beach.
- trooper: We do not need secret police, uniformed storm troopers or identity cards to deal with foreign fundamentalist fanatics.
- petrel: Storm petrels are perhaps the most remarkable as, despite their tiny size they take over 60 days to fledge!
- flap: The jacket has a single storm flap, where a double storm flap would offer better protection in a heavy downpour.
- cloud: Will and I then set off to brave the Fierce Ladies, storm clouds gathered and a deluge poured down upon the mountains.
- brewing: It suddenly fades out, wind blows, a storm brewing?
Preposition: in
- teacup: In the nineteen thirties there was many a storm in a teacup at the famous Savoy " Tango Teas " .
- tea-cup: This is classic ' storm in a tea-cup ' stuff and of little real significance to the overall debate.
Browse dictionary entries near storm
- ‹ stork's-bill
- ‹ stork
- ‹ storied
- ‹ storey
- ‹ storewide
- ‹ storeroom
- ‹ storekeeper
- ‹ storehouse
- ‹ storefront
- ‹ stored program control
- storm cellar ›
- storm center ›
- storm door ›
- storm petrel ›
- storm trooper ›
- storm window ›
- stormbound ›
- stormproof ›
- stormy ›
- stormy petrel ›

