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

Several tornadoes are possible near Kauai and Niihau on Labor Day and overnight, and a few tornadoes are also possible across the remainder of the Hawaiian Islands, the hurricane center warned. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Then there was the tornado that recently touched down in the Rockaways and Atlantic Beach. — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

As the more than 200 indie artists and bands were preparing to head to Appleton, about 100 miles northwest of Milwaukee, an EF-3 tornado tore through the region the Monday before the festival. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026

More funding came in May of that year after tornadoes tore through a vast swath of Kentucky and resulted in at least 19 deaths. — Ruby Grisin, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 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