noun
hurricane
HUH-rih-kuhn
noun
1
A powerful rotating tropical storm with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, typically forming over the Atlantic or eastern Pacific.
"The coastal town was evacuated ahead of the hurricane."
"Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June through November."
2
Any sudden, overwhelming rush of activity, emotion, or force.
"A hurricane of criticism followed the announcement."
3
A sweet rum-based cocktail typically made with passion fruit and lemon juice.
"They ordered hurricanes at the bar on Bourbon Street."
How to Use Hurricane
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA violent tropical storm — or, more loosely, any overwhelming burst of force or activity.
UK vs US
The same storm type is called a "typhoon" in the western Pacific and a "cyclone" in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.
Common pairings
a category 5 hurricane
hurricane season
hurricane warning
weather the hurricane
Word Forms
hurricaned past tense, hurricanes plural, hurricanes plural, Hurricanes plural, hurricanes singular
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The coastal town was evacuated ahead of the _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish huracán, which came from a Taíno word for a powerful storm god.