'Cyclonic storm' definitions:

Definition of 'Cyclonic storm'

From: GCIDE
  • Storm \Storm\, n. [AS. storm; akin to D. storm, G. sturm, Icel. stormr; and perhaps to Gr. ? assault, onset, Skr. s? to flow, to hasten, or perhaps to L. sternere to strew, prostrate (cf. Stratum). [root]166.]
  • 1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not. [1913 Webster]
  • We hear this fearful tempest sing, Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult. [1913 Webster]
  • I will stir up in England some black storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Her sister Began to scold and raise up such a storm. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence. [1913 Webster]
  • A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mil.) A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like. [1913 Webster]
  • Anticyclonic storm (Meteor.), a storm characterized by a central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often by clear sky. Called also high-area storm, anticyclone. When attended by high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures such storms have various local names, as blizzard, wet norther, purga, buran, etc.
  • Cyclonic storm. (Meteor.) A cyclone, or low-area storm. See Cyclone, above.
  • Magnetic storm. See under Magnetic.
  • Storm-and-stress period [a translation of G. sturm und drang periode], a designation given to the literary agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under the lead of Goethe and Schiller in the latter part of the 18th century.
  • Storm center (Meteorol.), the center of the area covered by a storm, especially by a storm of large extent.
  • Storm door (Arch.), an extra outside door to prevent the entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; -- usually removed in summer.
  • Storm path (Meteorol.), the course over which a storm, or storm center, travels.
  • Storm petrel. (Zool.) See Stormy petrel, under Petrel.
  • Storm sail (Naut.), any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather.
  • Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.
  • Usage: Storm, Tempest. Storm is violent agitation, a commotion of the elements by wind, etc., but not necessarily implying the fall of anything from the clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as those common on the coast of Italy, where the term originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain, with lightning and thunder. [1913 Webster]
  • Storms beat, and rolls the main; O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • What at first was called a gust, the same Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name. --Donne. [1913 Webster]