cy|clone

cy|clone «SY klohn», noun.

1. a storm or winds moving around and spiraling in toward a calm center of low pressure, which also moves. The winds of a cyclone move counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. »

Many errors in forecasting are caused by overattention to comparatively local conditions, without proper regard to the grand movement upon which the cyclones—the parents of rain and sunshine—are borne (London Times).

SYNONYM(S): typhoon, hurricane.

2. any very violent windstorm, such as a tornado. SYNONYM(S): whirlwind.

╂[ultimately < Greek kýklos circle; probably influenced by Greek kyklôn, present participle of kykloyn move around in a circle]