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cyclone

 - 4 dictionary results
Tornado
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cy⋅clone

  [sahy-klohn]
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–noun
1. a large-scale, atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure at its center and by circular wind motion, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Compare anticyclone, extratropical cyclone, tropical cyclone.
2. (not in technical use) tornado.
3. Also called cyclone collector, cyclone separator. Machinery. a device for removing small or powdered solids from air, water, or other gases or liquids by centrifugal force.
Origin:
term introduced by British meteorologist Henry Piddington (1797–1858) in 1848, perh. < Gk kyklôn revolving (prp. of kykloûn to revolve, v. deriv. of kýklos; see cycle ); appar. confused by Piddington with kýklōma wheel, snake's coil
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Tornado
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cy·clone   (sī'klōn')   
n.  

  1. Meteorology

    1. An atmospheric system characterized by the rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low-pressure center, usually accompanied by stormy, often destructive weather. Cyclones circulate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

    2. A violent tropical storm, especially one originating in the southwestern Pacific Ocean or Indian Ocean.

  2. A violent rotating windstorm.

  3. Any of various devices using centrifugal force to separate materials.


[From Greek kuklōn, present participle of kukloun, to rotate, from kuklos, circle; see kwel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
cy·clon'ic (-klŏn'ĭk), cy·clon'i·cal adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

cyclone

Any circular wind motion. A region of low atmospheric pressure. Also, a tropical storm.

Note: Cyclones can be a few feet across (“dust devils”) or can be major storm systems such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons.
Note: These winds move counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. (See Coriolis effect.)
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cyclone 
1848, coined by British East India Co. official Henry Piddington to describe the devastating storm of December 1789 in Coringa, India, from Gk. kyklon "moving in a circle, whirling around," prp. of kykloun "move in a circle, whirl," from kyklos "circle" (see cycle). Applied to tornados from 1856.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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