typhoon

[ tahy-foon ]

noun

1. Meteorology. a tropical cyclone in the western Pacific Ocean or northern Indian Ocean, having sustained winds of at least 64 knots (74 miles per hour, 33 meters per second): typhoons form in waters with surface temperatures of about 80°F (27°C), intensifying as temperatures rise. Compare hurricane ( def 1 ).
2. Typhoon, Military.
   1. a single-engine British ground attack aircraft of World War II.
   2. NATO's name for a class of nuclear-powered Soviet ballistic missile submarine carrying 20 multiwarhead missiles.

typhoon

/ taɪˈfɒnɪk; taɪˈfuːn /

noun

1. a violent tropical storm or cyclone, esp in the China seas and W Pacific
2. a violent storm of India

typhoon

/ tī-fo̅o̅n′ /

1. A violent cyclonic storm occurring in the western Pacific Ocean.
2. See Note at cyclone

typhoon

1. In meteorology , a type of cyclone occurring in the western regions of the Pacific Ocean .

Notes

A typhoon is similar to a hurricane in levels of destructiveness.

Derived Forms

• typhonic, adjective

Other Words From

• ty·phon·ic [tahy-, fon, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of typhoon¹

First recorded in 1580–90; alteration (influenced by Greek tȳphôn “violent wind, whirlwind”) of earlier touffon, tufan, from Arabic ṭūfān “hurricane, deluge” (perhaps from Greek tȳphôn ), from dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) taaî fung, equivalent to Chinese dàfēng “great wind”

Word History and Origins

Origin of typhoon¹

C16: from Chinese tai fung great wind, from tai great + fung wind; influenced by Greek tuphōn whirlwind

Example Sentences

Typhoon Kong-rey, the biggest typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in nearly 30 years, has made landfall on the island's eastern coast.

From BBC

The typhoon has injured over 70 people and killed at least one person, authorities said on Thursday afternoon.

From BBC

Taiwan’s typhoon season, according to its weather agency, generally falls between July and September.

From BBC

But this year two huge storms have hit Taiwan in October — the other being super typhoon Krathon, which killed four people and left more than 700 injured.

From BBC

The deadliest storm to hit Taiwan in recent decades was Typhoon Morakot in August 2009.

From BBC

Related Words

• hurricane
• tropical cyclone
• tropical storm