[hur-i-keyn, huhr- or, especially Brit., -kuh
n] 
| 1. | a violent, tropical, cyclonic storm of the western North Atlantic, having wind speeds of or in excess of 72 mph (32 m/sec). Compare tropical cyclone, typhoon. |
| 2. | a storm of the most intense severity. |
| 3. | anything suggesting a violent storm. |
| 4. | (initial capital letter) Military. a single-seat British fighter plane of World War II, fitted with eight .303 caliber machine guns and with a top speed in excess of 300 mph (480 km/h). |
hur·ri·cane (hûr'ĭ-kān', hŭr'-)  (click for larger image in new window) n.
[Spanish huracán, from Taino hurákan; akin to Arawak kulakani, thunder.] |
A large tropical storm system with high-powered circular winds. (See cyclone and eye of a hurricane.)
Note: Between July and October, hurricanes cause extensive damage along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. (See Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.)
"These tempestes of the ayer (which the Grecians caule Tiphones ...) they caule furacanes."OED records some 39 different spellings, mostly from the late 16c., including forcane, herrycano, harrycain, hurlecane. Modern form became frequent from 1650, established after 1688. Shakespeare uses hurricano ("King Lear," "Troilus and Cressida"), but in reference to waterspouts.
hurricane (hûr'ĭ-kān') Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) A severe, rotating tropical storm with heavy rains and cyclonic winds exceeding 74 mi (119 km) per hour, especially such a storm occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. Hurricanes originate in the tropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean or the Caribbean Sea and move generally northward. They lose force when they move over land or colder ocean waters. See Note at cyclone. |