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

In mid-May, Gordon was one of the communities affected when seven tornadoes touched down on the same day throughout north central Texas. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Dec. 2025

What to do in an emergency situation if there's a fire or tornado. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Dec. 2025

The building will also feature a historical hallway to honor the county's most significant disasters, including the Sayler Park tornado in 1974 and the Montgomery tornado in 1999. —Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2025

Since a March 2020 tornado splintered its Holly Street building, the East End United Methodist Church has been conducting services at the Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School. —Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Dec. 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