storm

¹

[ stawrm ]

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.

   Synonyms: blizzard, wind, squall, cyclone, tornado, tempest, hurricane, gale

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 meters per second).
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)

1. (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.

2. to rage or complain with violence or fury:

   He stormed angrily at me.

3. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery:

   The troops stormed against the garrison.

4. to rush to an assault or attack:

   The tanks stormed towards the city.

5. to rush angrily:

   to storm out of a room.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to or as if to a storm:

   The salesman stormed them with offers.

2. to utter or say with angry vehemence:

   The strikers stormed their demands.

3. to attack or assault (persons, places, or things):

   to storm a fortress.

Storm

²

[ shtohrm ]

noun

1. The·o·dore Wold·sen [tey, -aw-daw, r, , vawlt, -s, uh, n], 1817–88, German poet and novelist.

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
7. storm in a teacup
   a violent fuss or disturbance over a trivial matter US equivalenttempest in a teapot
8. take by storm
   1. to capture or overrun by a violent assault
   2. to overwhelm and enthral

verb

1. to attack or capture (something) suddenly and violently
2. intr to be vociferously angry
3. intr to move or rush violently or angrily
4. intr; with it as subject to rain, hail, or snow hard and be very windy, often with thunder or lightning

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈstormˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• stormlike adjective
• outstorm verb (used with object)
• un·stormed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of storm¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch storm, German Sturm, Old Norse stormr; (verb) Middle English stormen, derivative of the noun (compare obsolete sturme, Middle English sturmen, Old English styrman, denominative verb from the same Germanic base as storm ); akin to stir ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of storm¹

Old English, related to Old Norse stormr, German Sturm; see stir ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. storm in a teacup. teacup ( def 3 ).

More idioms and phrases containing storm

see any port in a storm ; kick up a fuss (storm) ; ride out (the storm) ; take by storm ; weather the storm .

Example Sentences

We are deep in darkness, before a four-year storm that, according to those Trump has already appointed to his staff, will be replete with violence against immigrants, overwhelming tariffs, profuse and criminal lies, the further fracturing of our country, a desecration of the Constitution and many other forms of villainy — all of which will be conveniently blamed on Joe Biden and the Democrats in an unending stream of calumnious statements backed up by Elon Musk on his de facto state media operation.

From Salon

“There is a perfect storm of young inexperienced staff with poor vetting and inadequate training being thrown into a dystopian environment," Mr Podmore says, "where violence and organised crime dominate a failing prison system.”

From BBC

Indeed, Hegseth himself refers to the left as “domestic enemies,” writing: “Antifa, BLM, now Hamas supporters and other progressive storm troopers have done their best to create little Samarras,” referring to a city he deployed to in Iraq.

From Salon

“CoComelon” has indeed taken the lucrative kids media market by storm.

From Los Angeles Times

Colder air high in the atmosphere meets warmer air flowing in from the Mediterranean which intensifies the storm.

From BBC

Related Words

• attack
• barrage
• bomb
• bombardment
• burst
• disturbance
• onslaught
• outbreak
• upheaval
• violence