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tornado

/tɔrˈneɪdoʊ/
/tɔˈneɪdəʊ/
IPA guide

Other forms: tornadoes; tornados

A tornado is a violent windstorm in the shape of a funnel cloud that reaches to the ground. If a tornado is coming, you’ll want to take cover.

A tornado can be quite severe and leave a lot of destruction in its wake, Tornadoes (or tornados — either is correct) tend to occur more often and with more severity in areas over flat lands, such as the Great Plains. That Kansas “twister” in The Wizard of Oz is a famous example of a tornado. Tornado is sometimes used to describe someone or something that acts like a tornado — with intense, violent energy or emotion.

Definitions of tornado
  1. noun
    a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
    synonyms: twister
    see moresee less
    types:
    supertwister
    the most powerful tornado which can create enormously devastating damage
    waterspout
    a tornado passing over water and picking up a column of water and mist
    type of:
    cyclone
    a violent rotating windstorm
  2. noun
    a purified and potent form of cocaine that is smoked rather than snorted; highly addictive
    see moresee less
    type of:
    cocain, cocaine
    a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive
Pronunciation
US
/tɔrˈneɪdoʊ/
UK
/tɔˈneɪdəʊ/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘tornado'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Commonly confused words

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