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

• drainpipe
• eaves trough
• gutter
• rainspout
• spout
• trough

Examples of waterspout in a Sentence

the waterspout became clogged, and then the roof leaked

Recent Examples on the Web

That perfect storm of waterspout conditions hit Italy around the time the Bayesian sank. —Alec Luhn, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2024

Szilagyi compares the waterspout’s development to a twirling figure skater. —Alec Luhn, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2024

Sicily's civil protection agency said that a tornado over the water known as a waterspout had struck the area overnight. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 20 Aug. 2024

Just as Florida heads into the teeth of the mean season, the good folks at the Heritage Foundation have a plan for dealing with rain, hail, waterspouts, searing heat, inland flooding and the wind monsters formerly known as hurricanes — just stop looking. —Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 28 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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