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turbulent

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The definition of turbulent is something characterized by chaos, confusion, disorder or conflict.

(adjective)

An example of a turbulent time was the era of the Vietnam war protests.
An example of turbulent is water that moves unsteadily or has high waves.

See turbulent in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

full of commotion or wild disorder; specif.,

marked by or causing turmoil; unruly or boisterous: a turbulent mob
violently agitated; tumultuous: turbulent grief
marked by wildly irregular motion: turbulent air currents

Origin: Fr < L turbulentus < turba, a crowd: see turbid

Related Forms:

turbulently adverb

See turbulent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Violently agitated or disturbed; tumultuous: turbulent rapids.
Having a chaotic or restless character or tendency: a turbulent period in history.
Causing unrest or disturbance; unruly: turbulent, revolutionary undercurrents.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin turbulentus

Origin: , from turba, turmoil; see turbid

Related Forms:

turˈbu·lent·ly adverb

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