/suy"klohn/ , n.
1. a large-scale, atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure at its center and by circular wind motion, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Cf. anticyclone, extratropical cyclone, tropical cyclone .
2. (not in technical use) tornado.
3. Also called cyclone collector, cyclone separator . Mach. a device for removing small or powdered solids from air, water, or other gases or liquids by centrifugal force.
[ term introduced by British meteorologist Henry Piddington (1797-1858) in 1848, perh. kyklôn revolving (prp. of kykloûn to revolve, v. deriv. of kýklos; see CYCLE); appar. confused by Piddington with kýkloma wheel, snake's coil ]