tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 
plural tornadoes or tornados
1
a
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
b
: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
2
: a violent windstorm : whirlwind
3
archaic
: a tropical thunderstorm
Examples of tornado in a Sentence
in the path of a tornado
Recent Examples on the Web
In two minutes, the tornado lifted after traveling just over a mile, the team said.
—
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
The greatest threat for tornadoes may center around Oklahoma.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
In addition to tornadoes, there have been 77 damaging storm reports from Florida to West Virginia in the last 24 hours.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
In addition to tornadoes, storms could also produce damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and small hail.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans reported that the tornado the city of Slidell, Louisiana, experienced on April 10 was likely an EF-1, meaning that its winds measured between 86 and 110 mph.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Lopez said the highest risk for tornadoes was also in those states.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
The tornado is recorded as being nearly a mile wide.
—Megan Cardona, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
More than 70% of Rolling Fork residents displaced by the tornado were renters.
—Michael Goldberg, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
The greatest threat for tornadoes may center around Oklahoma.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
In addition to tornadoes, there have been 77 damaging storm reports from Florida to West Virginia in the last 24 hours.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
In addition to tornadoes, storms could also produce damaging wind gusts, flooding downpours and small hail.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans reported that the tornado the city of Slidell, Louisiana, experienced on April 10 was likely an EF-1, meaning that its winds measured between 86 and 110 mph.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Lopez said the highest risk for tornadoes was also in those states.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
The tornado is recorded as being nearly a mile wide.
—Megan Cardona, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
More than 70% of Rolling Fork residents displaced by the tornado were renters.
—Michael Goldberg, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tornado.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tornado
Cite this Entry
“Tornado.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tornado. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tornado
noun
tor·na·do
tȯr-ˈnād-ō
plural tornadoes or tornados
: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land
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