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Definition of hurricane noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hurricane

noun
 
/ˈhʌrɪkən/
 
/ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
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  1. a violent storm with very strong winds, especially in the western Atlantic Ocean
    • A powerful hurricane hit the Florida coast.
    • Hurricane Sandy devastated the area.
    • The hurricane season does not end until November.
    • hurricane victims
    • hurricane-force winds
    • The proceeds will go to hurricane relief.
    Collocations The weatherThe weatherGood weather
    • be bathed in/​bask in/​be blessed with/​enjoy bright/​brilliant/​glorious sunshine
    • the sun shines/​warms something/​beats down (on something)
    • the sunshine breaks/​streams through something
    • fluffy/​wispy clouds drift across the sky
    • a gentle/​light/​stiff/​cool/​warm/​sea breeze blows in/​comes in off the sea
    • the snow crunches beneath/​under somebody’s feet/​boots
    Bad weather
    • thick/​dark/​storm clouds form/​gather/​roll in/​cover the sky/​block out the sun
    • the sky darkens/​turns black
    • a fine mist hangs in the air
    • a dense/​heavy/​thick fog rolls in
    • the rain falls/​comes down (in buckets/​sheets)/pours down
    • snow falls/​comes down/​covers something
    • the wind blows/​whistles/​howls/​picks up/​whips through something/​sweeps across something
    • strong/​gale-force winds blow/​gust (up to 80 mph)
    • a storm is approaching/​is moving inland/​hits/​strikes/​rages
    • thunder rolls/​rumbles/​sounds
    • (forked/​sheet) lightning strikes/​hits/​flashes
    • a (blinding/​snow) blizzard hits/​strikes/​blows/​rages
    • a tornado touches down/​hits/​strikes/​destroys something/​rips through something
    • forecast/​expect/​predict rain/​snow/​a category-four hurricane
    • (North American English) pour (down)/ (British English) pour (down) with rain
    • get caught in/​seek shelter from/​escape the rain
    • be covered/​shrouded in mist/​a blanket of fog
    • be in for/​brave/​shelter from a/​the storm
    • hear rolling/​distant thunder
    • be battered/​buffeted by strong winds
    • (British English) be blowing a gale
    • battle against/​brave the elements
    The weather improves
    • the sun breaks through the clouds
    • the sky clears/​brightens (up)/lightens (up)
    • the clouds part/​clear
    • the rain stops/​lets up/​holds off
    • the wind dies down
    • the storm passes
    • the mist/​fog lifts/​clears
    compare cyclone, typhoon
    Extra Examples
    • Hurricane Betty is now approaching the coast of Florida.
    • The fields were devastated by the hurricane.
    • The hurricane blew ashore near San Fernando.
    • The hurricane took several days to blow itself out.
    • The roof blew off in a hurricane.
    • We had been warned there was a hurricane coming.
    Topics Weatherb1, The environmentb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • major
    • powerful
    hurricane + verb
    • hit something
    • strike (something)
    • come
    hurricane + noun
    • force
    • warning
    • damage
    preposition
    • in a/​the hurricane
    phrases
    • the eye of the hurricane
    See full entry
    Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Spanish huracán, probably from Taino hurakán ‘god of the storm’.
See hurricane in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
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