tornado
noun
tor·na·do tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 
plural tornadoes or tornados
1
a
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
b
: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
2
: a violent windstorm : whirlwind
3
archaic : a tropical thunderstorm
Example Sentences
in the path of a tornado
Recent Examples on the Web While at Alabama, Tinker endured the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak that devastated Tuscaloosa and other areas of the state. 
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 In December 2021, the deadliest tornado outbreak in state history killed 80 people. James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 2 Aug. 2022 Graham also headed the weather service’s offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama, including during a 2002 tornado outbreak that killed 12 people. Seth Borenstein, Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2022 Not today — the tornado outbreak has reached its peak. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 This means extreme events, like the deadly December tornado outbreak in Tennessee and Kentucky, could be more frequent. Caitlin Kaiser And Brandon Miller, CNN, 31 Mar. 2022 Sixty-three million Americans are bracing for another round of dangerous weather across the South this week — just days after a deadly tornado outbreak caused widespread damage in multiple states. Nelson Oliveira, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2022 With last week's snowstorms cleared, first lady Jill Biden has finalized plans to visit Kentucky and survey areas damaged by last month's deadly tornado outbreak. Editors, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2022 That deadline gives lawmakers an opportunity to respond to the omicron variant and other recent crises, including a deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky, which prompted bipartisan calls for disaster relief. Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2022 See More
Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 In December 2021, the deadliest tornado outbreak in state history killed 80 people. James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 2 Aug. 2022 Graham also headed the weather service’s offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama, including during a 2002 tornado outbreak that killed 12 people. Seth Borenstein, Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2022 Not today — the tornado outbreak has reached its peak. Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2022 This means extreme events, like the deadly December tornado outbreak in Tennessee and Kentucky, could be more frequent. Caitlin Kaiser And Brandon Miller, CNN, 31 Mar. 2022 Sixty-three million Americans are bracing for another round of dangerous weather across the South this week — just days after a deadly tornado outbreak caused widespread damage in multiple states. Nelson Oliveira, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2022 With last week's snowstorms cleared, first lady Jill Biden has finalized plans to visit Kentucky and survey areas damaged by last month's deadly tornado outbreak. Editors, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2022 That deadline gives lawmakers an opportunity to respond to the omicron variant and other recent crises, including a deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky, which prompted bipartisan calls for disaster relief. Democrat-gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
modification of Spanish tronada thunderstorm, from tronar to thunder, from Latin tonare — more at thunder entry 1
First Known Use
1556, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
tornado
noun
tor·na·do tȯr-ˈnā-dō
plural tornadoes or tornados
: a violent whirling wind accompanied by a cloud that is shaped like a funnel and moves overland in a narrow path
tornado
noun
as in hurricane
a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point A siren alerted the town that they were in the path of a tornado. a tornado warning Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hurricane
- gale
- windstorm
- tempest
- blow
- blast
- squall
- gust
- scud
- zephyr
- flurry
- windblast
- breeze
- bluster
- current
- puff
- williwaw
- draft
- waft
- northerly
- westerly
- whiff
- northeaster
- norther
- air
- breath
- southeaster
- northwester
- southwester