waterspout

noun

wa·​ter·​spout ˈwȯ-tər-ˌspau̇t 

ˈwä-

1

: a pipe, duct, or orifice from which water is spouted or through which it is carried

2

: a funnel-shaped or tubular column of rotating cloud-filled wind usually extending from the underside of a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud down to a cloud of spray torn up by the whirling winds from the surface of an ocean or lake

Synonyms

• gutter

Examples of waterspout in a Sentence

the waterspout became clogged, and then the roof leaked

Recent Examples on the Web

Offshore from these areas, the NWS also warned that waterspouts could form. —Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

National Weather Service meteorologists consider forecasting waterspouts during the late summer and fall whenever large, cool air masses overspread the waters of the Great Lakes. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Every year, in Yoro, Honduras, for example, fish rain down on the city thought to have been sucked into waterspouts. —Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

Video footage of the waterspout and photos of the destruction at Paw Paw Point were reviewed and verified by the NWS. —Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 15 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for waterspout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

Kids Definition

waterspout

noun

wa·​ter·​spout ˈwȯt-ər-ˌspau̇t 

ˈwät-

1

: a pipe for carrying off water from a roof

2

: a column of rotating wind extending from a cloud down to a cloud of spray torn up from the surface of a body of water by the winds