Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Storm
Storm
,Noun.
[AS.
storm
; akin to D. storm
, G. sturm
, Icel. stormr
; and perhaps to Gr. [GREEK] assault, onset, Skr. s[GREEK]
to flow, to hasten, or perhaps to L. sternere
to strew, prostrate (cf. Stratum
). √166.] 1.
A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not.
We hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet seek no shelter to avoid the
Yet seek no shelter to avoid the
storm
. Shakespeare
2.
A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult.
I will stir up in England some black
storm
. Shakespeare
Her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a
Began to scold and raise up such a
storm
. Shakespeare
3.
A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence.
A brave man struggling in the
storms
of fate. Pope.
4.
(Mil.)
A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like.
☞ Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like.
Anticyclonic storm
(Meteor.)
, a storm characterized by a central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often by clear sky. Called also
– high-area storm
, anticyclone
. When attended by high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures such storms have various local names, as blizzard
, wet norther
, purga
, buran
, etc. Cyclonic storm
. (Meteor.)
A cyclone, or low-area storm. See
– Cyclone
, above. Magnetic storm
. See under
– Magnetic
. Storm-and-stress period
[a translation of G.
, sturm und drang periode
]a designation given to the literary agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under the lead of Goethe and Schiller in the latter part of the 18th century.
– Storm center
(Meteorol.)
, the center of the area covered by a storm, especially by a storm of large extent.
– Storm door
(Arch.)
, an extra outside door to prevent the entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; – usually removed in summer.
– Storm path
(Meteorol.)
, the course over which a storm, or storm center, travels.
– Storm petrel
. (Zool.)
See
– Stormy petrel
, under Petrel
. Storm sail
(Naut.)
, any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather.
– Storm scud
. See the Note under
Cloud
.
Syn. – Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.
– Storm
, Tempest
. Storm is violent agitation, a commotion of the elements by wind, etc., but not necessarily implying the fall of anything from the clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as those common on the coast of Italy, where the term originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain, with lightning and thunder. Storms
beat, and rolls the main;O! beat those
storms
, and roll the seas, in vain. Pope.
What at first was called a gust, the same
Hath now a
Hath now a
storm’s
, anon a tempest's
name. Donne.
Storm
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Stormed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Storming
.] (Mil.)
To assault; to attack, and attempt to take, by scaling walls, forcing gates, breaches, or the like;
as, to
. storm
a fortified townStorm
,Verb.
I.
[Cf. AS.
styrman
.] 1.
To raise a tempest.
Spenser.
2.
To blow with violence; also, to rain, hail, snow, or the like, usually in a violent manner, or with high wind; – used impersonally;
as, it
. storms
3.
To rage; to be in a violent passion; to fume.
The master
storms
, the lady scolds. Swift.
Webster 1828 Edition
Storm
STORM
,Noun.
1.
A violent wind; a tempest. Thus a storm of wind, is correct language, as the proper sense of the word is rushing, violence. It has primarily no reference to a fall of rain or snow. But as a violent wind is often attended with rain or snow, the word storm has come to be used, most improperly, for a fall of rain or snow without wind.O beat those storms, and roll the seas in vain.
2.
A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter ad take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates and the like.3.
Violent civil or political commotion; sedition; insurrection; also, clamor; tumult; disturbance of the public peace.I will stir up in England some black storms.
Her sister began to scold and raise up such a storm--
4.
Affliction; calamity; distress; adversity.A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.
5.
Violence; vehemence; tumultuous force.STORM
,Verb.
T.
STORM
, v.i.1.
To raise a tempest.2.
To blow with violence; impersonally; as, it storms.3.
To rage; to be in a violent agitation of passion; to fume. The master storms.