cyclone

Definition

Any weather phenomenon consisting of a system of winds rotating around a centre of low atmospheric pressure; a low pressure system.

Etymology

Coined by Henry Piddington, probably in the 1840s, and based on some term in Ancient Greek. Sources disagree on the date and on which Ancient Greek term, though it had to be something derived from either κύκλος (kúklos, “circle, wheel”) or κυκλόω (kuklóō, “go around in a circle, form a circle, encircle”), for example the present active participle κυκλῶν (kuklôn). See cycle and wheel.

Example Sentences

• "Near-synonym: storm"
• "Near-synonyms: typhoon, hurricane"