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

Michael was a creative tornado. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

Fritz Hansen’s wave desk organizer is the single reason my desk doesn’t look tornado-stricken. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025

There is a marginal risk for severe weather across eastern Texas and Louisiana, where a storm or two may produce damaging wind gusts over 65 mph, 1-inch hail, lightning and a tornado or two. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 29 Nov. 2025

At least two tornadoes tore through the Houston area, damaging more than 100 homes at the start of a busy Thanksgiving travel week that has Americans closely eyeing the weather. —Arkansas Online, 26 Nov. 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