Skip to main content
cyclone

cyclone

42 3.7
A very strong storm with winds that spin and bring heavy rain and damage
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪkloʊn/
translation icon : ciclón
  • The estimated cost of recovering from Cyclone Heta in Niue was more than three times Niue's GDP.
  • tropical cyclone
  • storm surges during cyclones
  • cyclones or hurricanes

What really is the difference between a cyclone and a hurricane?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The town was devastated by the powerful cyclone that swept through last night.

  • What really is the difference between a cyclone and a hurricane?

  • The storm has turned into a cyclone!

  • We're still leagues from New Guinea, and we'll be passing through the height of cyclone season.

  • More intense extreme events, such as cyclones, are also likely to take a toll on agricultural production.

    Academic text (2005)
  • India's meteorological services had warned the Burmese authorities of the cyclone at least 48 hours in advance.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The tropical cyclone, which originated last week off the coast of British Honduras, has intensified rapidly and is now designated Hurricane Mabeline.

  • Many homes were destroyed when the cyclone made landfall on the east coast.

  • As the cyclone approached, residents were advised to seek shelter immediately.

Synonyms

storm
vscyclone
1.0

A violent weather event with heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning

is specifically a rotating tropical wind system rather than any general bad weather
hurricane
vscyclone
301 2.2

A very strong storm that forms over warm ocean water with powerful winds and heavy rain

is the same rotating tropical system but not restricted to those ocean basins
typhoon
vscyclone
30 3.8

A very strong storm with heavy rain and strong winds that forms in the western Pacific or the Indian Ocean

is any violent rotating tropical system not limited to those regions
violent storm
vscyclone
  • Specialized
5 3.4

A very strong storm with high winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning

is a rotating tropical wind system rather than any measured high wind event

Antonyms

anticyclone
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A large area of high air pressure that brings clear weather and winds spinning outward

Compounds

cyclone cellar
  • Australian
1 7.2

An underground room where people stay safe during strong storms

How Severe

hurricane
301 2.2
cyclone
42 3.7
storm
1.0
gale
24 5.8
breeze
201 1.0

Surface Forms

cyclone singular
cyclones plural

Morphology

cyclone = cycle (semi-transparent) = cycl + one

The element 'cycl-' evokes circular motion (related to 'cycle'), but the ending '-one' is not a productive English suffix and the meteorological sense is specialized.

Etymology

The word cyclone comes from the Greek word kyklos meaning 'circle', and you can see the same root in the word cycle. So a cyclone is a storm that 'spins' like a wheel and brings very strong winds that can cause damage.