Hurricane - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT hurricane /ˌhʌrəˈkeɪn/ /ˈhʌrɪkɛn/ IPA guide

Other forms: hurricanes

A hurricane is a severe tropical storm with high winds and heavy rain. When a hurricane comes through your town, you should board up the windows and stay inside.

Hurricanes have sustained winds that rotate in a circle, which is why they are often referred to as cyclones. The worst hurricane in recent years in America was Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005 and devastated the city. The word hurricane comes from the Spanish word huracan. Interestingly, the Old English dictionary has 39 spellings for the word based on English-Spanish-Portuguese hybrids.

Definitions of hurricane

noun a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving a 73-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale) see moresee less type of: cyclone a violent rotating windstorm

Pronunciation US /ˌhʌrəˈkeɪn/ UK /ˈhʌrɪkɛn/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘hurricane'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Commonly confused words

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