tornado

noun

tor·​na·​do tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 

plural tornadoes or tornados

1

a

: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land

b

: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa

2

: a violent windstorm : whirlwind

3

archaic : a tropical thunderstorm

Examples of tornado in a Sentence

in the path of a tornado

Recent Examples on the Web

If weather forecasting is privatized, would tornado warnings, hurricane tracking, and flood alerts become available only to paying customers? —Sweta Chakraborty, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

The National Weather Service reported at least one tornado overnight in Alabama, and tornado warnings were issued in multiple states. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025

In recent days, severe weather has swept through the region, bringing snow, flooding, and tornado threats to states including West Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025

Several tornado warnings were issued across Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee late Saturday, before the storm pushed into Georgia on Sunday morning. —Mary Gilbert, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish tronada thunderstorm, from tronar to thunder, from Latin tonare — more at thunder entry 1

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tornado

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

tornado

noun

tor·​na·​do tȯr-ˈnād-ō 

plural tornadoes or tornados

: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land