cyclone

noun cy·clone \ ˈsī-ˌklōn \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of cyclone

1 a : a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure, advances at a speed of 20 to 30 miles (about 30 to 50 kilometers) an hour, and often brings heavy rain

b : tornado

c : ⁴low 1b

2 : any of various centrifugal devices for separating materials (such as solid particles from gases)

—

cyclonic

play \sī-ˈklä-nik\ adjective

—

cyclonically

play \sī-ˈklä-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See cyclone defined for English-language learners

See cyclone defined for kids

Recent Examples of cyclone from the Web

An international committee of meteorologists has officially retired the names of the four 2017 storms from the rotating roster of cyclone names.

— alan blinder, BostonGlobe.com, "Names That ‘Don’t Bear Repeating’: Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate," 13 Apr. 2018
Between 2006 and 2016, the National Hurricane Center cited, on average, about five central pressure readings per hurricane that made landfall in Mexico, according to an analysis of cyclone reports.

— latimes.com, "Mexico's disaster bonds were meant to provide quick cash after hurricanes and earthquakes. But it often hasn’t worked out that way," 8 Apr. 2018
The seaborne exodus had failed to materialize until this week, however, but now comes as the monsoon season in the Bay of Bengal, accompanied by some of the world’s most ferocious cyclones, is due to begin this month.

— anita rachman, WSJ, "U.N. Warns More Rohingya Boats May Be in Danger at Sea," 6 Apr. 2018
The Delaney complex is now encircled by a tall cyclone fence, keeping intruders out.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Gary Housing Authority to demolish 252 vacant homes with $3.2M from HUD," 23 Mar. 2018
On the desk was a tiny oil painting by her paternal grandmother, Lucile G. Hicks, an abstract work that looked like the sea or the inside of a cyclone, depending on your point of view.

— olivia nuzzi, Daily Intelligencer, "What Hope Hicks Knows," 18 Mar. 2018
Since entering orbit around the poles in 2016, the spacecraft has documented clusters of cyclones, including eight around the north pole.

— shannon stirone, WIRED, "Space Photos of the Week: Jupiter's Wild, Wispy Weather Anomalies," 10 Mar. 2018
The out-of-this-world images, which are derived from data collected from NASA’s Juno spacecraft, show a multitude of massive cyclones on Jupiter, churning around the planet’s north and south poles.

— Time, "Cyclones on Jupiter Seen in Dramatic New NASA Images," 9 Mar. 2018
As the name suggests, nor'easters are macro-scale cyclones that hit the northeastern United States.

— steven senne, National Geographic, "Wind, Snow, and Floods—What You Need to Know About the Northeast's Dangerous Winter Storm," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cyclone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cyclone

modification of Greek kyklōma wheel, coil, from kykloun to go around, from kyklos circle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1848

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Cyclone

trademark Cy·clone \ ˈsī-ˌklōn \

Definition of Cyclone

—used for a chain-link fence

CYCLONE Defined for English Language Learners

cyclone

noun

Definition of cyclone for English Language Learners

: an extremely large, powerful, and destructive storm with very high winds that turn around an area of low pressure

CYCLONE Defined for Kids

cyclone

noun cy·clone \ ˈsī-ˌklōn \

Definition of cyclone for Students

1 : a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure and that moves forward at a speed of 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 kilometers) an hour and often brings heavy rain

2 : tornado

Learn More about cyclone

See words that rhyme with cyclone Spanish Central: Translation of cyclone Nglish: Translation of cyclone for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cyclone

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cyclone

Definition of cyclone

cyclonic

cyclonically

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Origin and Etymology of cyclone

Cyclone

Definition of Cyclone

CYCLONE Defined for English Language Learners

cyclone

Definition of cyclone for English Language Learners

CYCLONE Defined for Kids

cyclone

Definition of cyclone for Students

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cyclone

Definition of cyclone

cyclonic

cyclonically

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Origin and Etymology of cyclone

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Definition of Cyclone

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cyclone

Definition of cyclone for English Language Learners

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cyclone

Definition of cyclone for Students

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