storm

[stawrm] /stɔrm/
noun
1.
a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
2.
a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
3.
Also called violent storm. Meteorology. a wind of 64–72 miles per hour (29–32 m/sec).
4.
a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
5.
a heavy or sudden volley or discharge:
a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
6.
a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
7.
a violent outburst or outbreak of expression:
a storm of applause.
8.
Informal. storm window.
verb (used without object)
9.
(of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., especially with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject):
It stormed all day.
10.
to rage or complain with violence or fury:
He stormed angrily at me.
11.
to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery:
The troops stormed against the garrison.
12.
to rush to an assault or attack:
The tanks stormed towards the city.
13.
to rush angrily:
to storm out of a room.
verb (used with object)
14.
to subject to or as if to a storm:
The salesman stormed them with offers.
15.
to utter or say with angry vehemence:
The strikers stormed their demands.
16.
to attack or assault (persons, places, or things):
to storm a fortress.
Idioms
17.
storm in a teacup. teacup (def 3).
Origin
before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch storm, German Sturm, Old Norse stormr; (v.) Middle English stormen, derivative of the noun (compare obsolete sturme, Middle English sturmen, Old English styrman, denominative v. from the same Germanic base as storm); akin to stir1
Related forms
stormlike, adjective
outstorm, verb (used with object)
unstormed, adjective
Synonyms
1. gale, hurricane, tempest, tornado, cyclone, squall, wind, blizzard.

Storm

[shtohrm] /ʃtoʊrm/
noun
1.
Theodore Woldsen
[tey-aw-dawr vawlt-suh n] /ˈteɪ ɔˌdɔr ˈvɔlt sən/ (Show IPA), 1817–88, German poet and novelist.
Examples from the web for storm
  • The storm is conjured by prospero as his enemies near the isle.
  • The tale of a storm and snow is false the day was calm and mild.
  • Instead of curving out to sea, the storm looped westward into the gulf of st.
  • The fleet was caught in a storm, and the sea venture was separated and began to flounder.
  • The present writer is familiar with these waters in both storm and calm.
  • One day, after a violent storm, it was announced that he was dead.
  • His ships next sustained more damage in a storm off the coast of cuba.
  • Hundreds of civilians were killed during operation storm, according to the bbc.
British Dictionary definitions for storm

storm

/stɔːm/
noun
1.
  1. a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, blowing sand, snow, etc
  2. (as modifier): storm signal, storm sail
  3. (in combination): stormproof
2.
(meteorol) a violent gale of force 10 on the Beaufort scale reaching speeds of 55 to 63 mph
3.
a strong or violent reaction: a storm of protest
4.
a direct assault on a stronghold
5.
a heavy discharge or rain, as of bullets or missiles
6.
short for storm window (sense 1)
7.
(Brit) storm in a teacup, a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter US equivalent tempest in a teapot
8.
take by storm
  1. to capture or overrun by a violent assault
  2. to overwhelm and enthral
verb
9.
to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently
10.
(intransitive) to be vociferously angry
11.
(intransitive) to move or rush violently or angrily
12.
(intransitive; with it as subject) to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning
Derived Forms
stormlike, adjective
Word Origin
Old English, related to Old Norse stormr, German Sturm; see stir1
Word Origin and History for storm
n.

Old English storm, from Proto-Germanic *sturmaz (cf. Old Norse stormr, Old Saxon, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Dutch storm, Old High German and German sturm). Old French estour "onset, tumult," Italian stormo are Germanic loan-words. Figurative (non-meteorological) sense was in late Old English.

Storm-door first recorded 1878; storm-water is from 1879; storm-window is attested from 1824. Storm surge attested from 1929.

v.

of the wind, "to rage, be violent," c.1400, from storm (n.). Military sense (1640s) first used by Oliver Cromwell. Related: Stormed; storming.

storm in Medicine

storm (stôrm)
n.
An exacerbation of symptoms or a crisis in the course of a disease.

storm in Science
storm
  (stôrm)   

  1. A low-pressure atmospheric disturbance resulting in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning.

  2. A wind with a speed from 103 to 117 km (64 to 73 mi) per hour, rating 11 on the Beaufort scale.


Slang definitions & phrases for storm

storm

verb

To speed; drive very fast (1950s+ Hot rodders)

Related Terms

blow up a storm, brainstorm, shitstorm, up a storm


storm in Technology


broadcast storm

Idioms and Phrases with storm

storm

see:
Encyclopedia Article for storm

violent atmospheric disturbance, characterized by low barometric pressure, cloud cover, precipitation, strong winds, and possibly lightning and thunder.

Learn more about storm with a free trial on Britannica.com