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

Examples of tornado in a Sentence

in the path of a tornado

Recent Examples on the Web

On Wednesday, severe storms may span from eastern Texas and western Louisiana up through southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, bringing risks of damaging winds, hail, lightning and isolated tornadoes, according to the outlet. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

Long-term evidence is lacking on the number and severity of some extreme weather events, such as tornadoes, and there is some spread in the outcomes of different climate models. —Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025

On average, Michigan sees about 16 tornadoes per year. —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 23 Sep. 2025

The tornado threat will be low and is mainly for northeast counties closer to the Red River. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for tornado

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

tornado

noun

tor·​na·​do tȯr-ˈnād-ō 

plural tornadoes or tornados

: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land