hurricane
hurricane Lexical Profile
hurricane Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A severe, large-scale tropical cyclone originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or eastern Pacific Ocean, characterized by heavy rains and sustained winds exceeding 74 miles per hour (119 km/h).
"The coastal residents evacuated immediately upon hearing that the hurricane was predicted to make landfall by midnight."
A sudden, powerful, or chaotic force or event resembling a severe storm in its speed, intensity, or destructive impact.
"The controversial policy announcement unleashed a hurricane of protests across the nation."
Word Nuance & Usage
The terms 'hurricane', 'typhoon', and 'cyclone' all describe the exact same weather phenomenon, but 'hurricane' is strictly used for storms occurring in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific oceans.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the 16th century from Spanish 'huracán', which derived from the Taino word 'juracán', referring to the indigenous Caribbean god of the storm.