01 n. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, …
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1.
A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not.“We hear this fearful tempest sing, Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm.” — Shak.
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3.
A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence.“A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.” — Pope.
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4.
A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like.(Mil.)“Storms beat, and rolls the main; O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain.” — Pope.“What at first was called a gust, the same Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name.” — Donne.
Phrases & compounds
Anticyclonic storm —
a storm characterized by a central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often by clear sky. Called also high-area storm, anticyclone. When attended by high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures such storms have various local names, as blizzard, wet norther, purga, buran, etc.
Cyclonic storm —
A cyclone, or low-area storm. See Cyclone, above.
Magnetic storm —
See under Magnetic.
Storm-and-stress period —
a designation given to the literary agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under the lead of Goethe and Schiller in the latter part of the 18th century.
Storm center —
the center of the area covered by a storm, especially by a storm of large extent.
Storm door —
an extra outside door to prevent the entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; -- usually removed in summer.
Storm path —
the course over which a storm, or storm center, travels.
Storm sail —
any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather.
Storm scud —
See the Note under Cloud.
Syn.
Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.
Storm, Tempest. Storm is violent agitation, a commotion of the elements by wind, etc., but not necessarily implying the fall of anything from the clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as those common on the coast of Italy, where the term originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain, with lightning and thunder.