squall
20
7.0
- noun
- /skwɔl/
- The small boat had to turn back when a sudden squall hit, tossing it on the waves.
- a frontal squall
- squall line
Examples
-
Heavy snow squalls.
-
We passed through a series of rain squalls this morning, but the horizon ahead is clear.
Fiction book (1992) -
Um, what time did the squall hit out there last night?
-
We must have lost him in that last squall.
-
Depending on what was going to occur, we might get a squall or two.
Academic text (2001) -
Well, there's a squall line going through here.
-
I stood on the porch for a minute and watched the squall line hiss its way across the lake.
Fiction book (1999) -
Finally, on the first day of October, a chilly squall whipped across the lake.
Fiction book (1990) -
A moment later, a squall of icy rain swept over the domes.
Fiction book (1999) -
And then, abruptly, the squall passes and the bird flies on through the drizzle to the southern shore.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
58
2.6
A sudden strong burst of wind
53
3.9
A sudden short burst of activity, wind, or snow
A long line of sudden, strong storms that moves along a weather front
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
7.9
A narrow line of strong storms that brings heavy rain and strong winds
How Strong
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word squall comes from an old sound word that copies a sudden, harsh noise, like a short 'shout', and that's why a squall is a sudden, violent gust or brief storm that seems to burst over you.