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

Those who experience a tornado in their community should stay away from cars and mobile homes — and go to the lowest floor of a building, Cooke said. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Marie Beauchamp, the executive director of the Cass County Emergency Services Board, started receiving calls from Cass County residents immediately after the tornado. —Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2026

Multiple tornadoes roared through the central United States Thursday, including a violent EF-4 twister that caused significant damage and multiple injuries in Oklahoma — the start of a dangerous multiday stretch of severe thunderstorms for the region. —Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026

Is climate change linked to an increase in tornadoes? —Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

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