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

This kicks off Morrible causing the tornado in the Wizard of Oz that brings Dorothy to Oz and kills Nessarose, a.k.a. —Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024

During the course of filming the 1939 classic about Kansas teen Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) who’s swept away to a magical land by a powerful tornado, multiple accidents and mishaps occurred. —Eric Andersson, People.com, 28 Nov. 2024

The massive, record-breaking tornado responsible had passed over my head only two days before, a few miles to the northeast near the town of Yellow Springs. —Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024

Looking back, perhaps its biggest challenge was the concept of the darkness in the story, which ultimately was depicted as a sort of tornado. —Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 25 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