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

Another tornado touched down Monday in Little Flock. —Al Gaspeny, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024

Continue to speed up the container, and more of these perfect tornadoes will slither in from the rim. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

As a series of tornadoes caused major devastation throughout parts of Oklahoma, Jill Duggar Dillard and her kids hunkered down in a closet. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Local resident Marie Bigbee heard her windows breaking just before a tornado siren blared. —Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024

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

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