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

Over the last month, the Philippines has been hit by six major storms, including five typhoons.

From NewsForKids.net

"We are terrified of the typhoon, as it may intensify and the waters can rise," she told the AFP news agency from a shelter in the eastern Albay province.

From BBC

The park also has been battered by storms and typhoons.

From Los Angeles Times

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

However, recent years have seen typhoons with stronger, more destructive winds and heavier rains.

From BBC

Related Words

• hurricane
• tropical cyclone
• tropical storm

Typhoon Vs. Hurricane Vs. Cyclone

What’s the difference between a typhoon, a hurricane, and a cyclone?

Typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone are all terms for big storms.

Although the word cyclone is often used to refer to a big storm, it is, technically speaking, a large-scale, atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure at its center and by circular wind motion. Because these generally produce clouds and precipitation, cyclones are often simply referred to as storms. When such storms form around the tropics, they are called tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones are classified based on their strength. They may start as tropical depressions and progress to tropical storms. The most severe tropical cyclones—those with winds of 74 mph (119 k/mh) or more—are called hurricanes or typhoons. Which term is used depends on where the storm occurs.

Generally, storms that form over the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico are called hurricanes, while those that form over the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons. (The word hurricane is sometimes used for storms that form over the eastern or central North Pacific Ocean.)

Cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

In casual use, the word cyclone is sometimes used to refer to a tornado (but it is not used this way in scientific contexts).

Here’s an example of typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone used correctly in a sentence.

Example: There have been many devastating cyclones this season, including a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and multiple typhoons in the Pacific.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones.

Quiz yourself on typhoon vs. hurricane vs. cyclone!

Should typhoon, hurricane, or cyclone be used in the following sentence?

Meteorologists are tracking a _____ that has formed in the Atlantic Ocean with winds exceeding 100 mph.