Turbulence definition

tûrbyə-ləns
Turbulence is instability, unsteadiness or disorder.

When air moves in an unstable manner that causes a plane to bounce around and give a bumpy ride to passengers, this is an example of turbulence.

When you experience a lot of ups and downs in your personal life, this is an example of a time of turbulence.

noun
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An eddying motion of the atmosphere that interrupts the flow of wind.
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Turbulent flow.
noun
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The condition or quality of being turbulent.
  • Commotion or wild disorder.
  • Violent, irregular motion or swirling agitation of water, air, gas, etc.
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(uncountable) The state or fact of being turbulent or agitated; tempestuousness, disturbance.
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(uncountable) Disturbance in a gas or fluid, characterized by evidence of internal motion or unrest.
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(uncountable) Specifically, a state of agitation or disturbance in the air which is disruptive to an aircraft.
noun
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An instance or type of such state or disturbance.
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Chaotic or unstable eddying motion in a fluid. Avoiding excessive turbulence generated around moving objects (such as airplanes), which can make their motion inefficient and difficult to control, is a major factor in aerodynamic design.
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The state or quality of being turbulent.

Times of turbulence and confusion.

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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
turbulence
Plural:
turbulences

Turbulence Sentence Examples

  • We're running into a little turbulence from the storm.

  • The little plane danced and swayed in the turbulence, constantly buffeted by the increas­ing wind.

  • Hail meant turbulence, and turbulence meant there could be a tornado close.

  • This was the most distressing episode in all the turbulence of territorial days and border warfare in Kansas.

  • There was no substratum of popular discontent left in England on which a dangerous insurrection might be built up. It was to be forty years before another outbreak of turbulence against the crown was to break forth.

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Words near turbulence in the Dictionary