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tornado

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
tor·na·do  (tôr-nd)
n. pl. tor·na·does or tor·na·dos
1. A rotating column of air ranging in width from a few yards to more than a mile and whirling at destructively high speeds, usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud.
2. A violent thunderstorm in western Africa or nearby Atlantic waters.
3. A whirlwind or hurricane.

[Alteration (perhaps influenced by Spanish tornar, to turn) of Spanish tronada, thunderstorm, from tronar, to thunder, from Latin tonre; see (s)ten- in Indo-European roots.]

tor·nadic (-ndk, -ndk) adj.

tornado [tɔːˈneɪdəʊ]
n pl -does, -dos
1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) Also called cyclone (US and Canadian informal), 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. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) 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
[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]
tornadic  [tɔːˈnædɪk] adj
tornado-like  adj

tornado  (tôr-nd)
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
a highly localized, violent windstorm occurring over land, usually in the U.S. Midwest, characterized by a vertical, funnel-shaped cloud.
See also: Wind
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.tornadotornado - a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
cyclone - a violent rotating windstorm
supertwister - the most powerful tornado which can create enormously devastating damage; "supertwisters are fortunately rare"
waterspout - a tornado passing over water and picking up a column of water and mist
2.tornadotornado - a purified and potent form of cocaine that is smoked rather than snorted; highly addictive
cocain, cocaine - a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive

tornado
noun whirlwind, storm, hurricane, gale, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, squall, twister (U.S. informal), windstorm The tornado tossed homes around like litter.
Translations
tornado [tɔːˈneɪdəʊ] N (tornados, tornadoes (pl)) → tornado m

tornado [tɔːrˈneɪdəʊ] [tornadoes] (pl) ntornade f

tornado
n pl <-es> → Tornado m

tornado [tɔːˈneɪdəʊ] n (tornadoes (pl)) → tornado
tornado [tɔːˈneɪdəʊ] n (tornadoes (pl)) → tornado

tornado
n tornado [toːˈneidəu]
a violent whirlwind that can cause great damage The village was destroyed by a tornado. tornado إعْصار دَوّامي ураган tornádo tornado der Tornado ανεμοστρόβιλος, σίφουνας tornado tornaado گردباد pyörremyrsky tornade טוּרנָדוֹ घूर्ण वायु tornado, orkan forgószél angin puyuh skÿstrókur; hvirfilbylur tornado 竜巻 토네이도, 폭풍 tornadas tornado, viesuļvētra puting beliung wervelwind virvelstorm, tornado tornado furacão tor­nadă торнадо tornado tornado virvelstorm, tornado พายุทอร์นาโด kasırga, tornado, siklon 龍捲風 торнадо, смерч آندھي، جھکڑ bão táp

tornado إعصار قمعي tornádo tornado Tornado σίφουνας tornado pyörremyrsky tornade tornado tornado 竜巻 토네이도 tornado tornado tornado tornado торнадо tromb พายุทอร์นาโด kasırga cơn lốc xoáy 龙卷风


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Branches, great and small, torn away by the ferocity of the tornado, hurtled through the wildly waving verdure, carrying death and destruction to countless unhappy denizens of the thickly peopled world below.
I can speed onward with the rapidity of a tornado, sometimes at the loftiest heights, sometimes only a hundred feet above the soil, while the map of Africa unrolls itself beneath my gaze in the great atlas of the world.
Sam, upon this, began to bestir himself in real earnest, and after a while appeared, bearing down gloriously towards the house, with Bill and Jerry in a full canter, and adroitly throwing himself off before they had any idea of stopping, he brought them up alongside of the horse-post like a tornado.
 
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