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cyclonic

cyclonic

1 7.0
Having strong turning winds and heavy rain
  • adjective
  • /saɪˈkloʊnɪk/
translation icon : ciclónico
  • Along the way, the leading Spanish ships were rocked by a cyclonic depression off the Bay of Biscay and, three days later, the rearmost ships were battered on the rocks off the shores of Ireland.
  • cyclonic storms

And so you have this unstable warm air underneath cold air, which leads to the the beginning of the cyclonic winds.

Examples

  • In recent years, the country has been struck by cyclonic storms at an average rate of 1.5 per year (Broadus 1993; see also Topping et al. 1991).

    Academic text (1993)
  • Hurricanes, typhoons, and Indian Ocean cyclones are all tropical cyclonic storms that form in the trade wind belt.

    Academic text (2003)
  • A low-pressure system along the California coast... ...is creating a cyclonic system across the L.A. Basin.

  • A significant portion of the community had lost their lands due to recent cyclonic damage, including the intrusion of saline water.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Aside from having some of the strongest winds on the planet, cyclonic storms are frequent due to the varying temperatures and the large open waters.

    Blog text (2)
  • Spanish explorers encountered severe cyclonic storms accompanied by large waves between 1542 and 1603, and they were a factor in the relatively late discovery.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The thermal gradient between 50 degrees N and 65 degrees N was strengthened, and it is contended that cyclonic storms developed at an intensity that exceeded the severity of most storms of modern times.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The cyclonic winds caused severe damage to homes and power lines during the storm.

  • Meteorologists warned that the approaching storm system would bring intense cyclonic weather conditions.

  • Residents prepared for heavy rain and strong winds as the cyclonic system moved toward the coast.

Synonyms

cyclonal
vscyclonic
  • Specialized
9.5

Relating to a strong storm with rotating winds

is about rotating winds and strong storms rather than general spinning
cyclonical
vscyclonic
8.8

Having very strong winds that move in a circle

is the same idea but emphasizes rotation plus storm intensity
vortical
vscyclonic
  • Specialized
8.3

Having a spinning motion like a small whirlpool

focuses on rotating winds within strong storm systems instead

Compounds

A vacuum cleaner that uses spinning air to separate dust into a removable bin instead of a bag

A machine that cleans floors by using strong spinning air to separate dust into a removable bin

A machine that uses spinning air to collect dust in a removable clear bin without a bag

How Cyclonic

cyclonic
1 7.0
stormy
33 1.0
windy
73 1.0
breezy
8 1.3
calm
735 1.0

Surface Forms

cyclonic positive

Morphology

cyclonic = cyclone (transparent) = cyclone + ic

The adjective is a regular adjectival derivation from 'cyclone' meaning 'relating to or characteristic of a cyclone', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

The word cyclonic comes from the Greek root cycl- meaning 'circle' or 'turn', the same root you see in cycle and bicycle. That's why cyclonic describes storms with strong, spinning winds that move in a circle.