Weather / B1

HUR-ik-uh-n/ˈhʌrɪkən/

A hurricane is a very strong tropical storm. UK reports also use the name when the storm is still over the Atlantic. Storm is the everyday wider word; typhoon is the Pacific equivalent. Countable: two hurricanes. Do not call a windy British Tuesday a hurricane. Flights grounded after an Atlantic hurricane.

Meaning

A very strong tropical storm with high winds.

Examples

• “Flights were grounded after the hurricane crossed the Atlantic.”
• “The insurance form asked whether the damage was from a hurricane or a flood.”

Good to know

a hurricane (countable). Wider: a storm. Pacific: a typhoon. UK: travel / insurance / Atlantic tracking. Not ordinary high wind.

Near in meaning

storm

Topics

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