— stormlike , adj.
/stawrm/ , n.
1. a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere, manifesting itself by winds of unusual force or direction, often accompanied by rain, snow, hail, thunder, and lightning, or flying sand or dust.
2. a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.
3. Also called violent storm . Meteorol. a wind of 64-72 mph (29-32 m/sec).
4. a violent military assault on a fortified place, strong position, or the like.
5. a heavy or sudden volley or discharge: a storm of criticism; a storm of bullets.
6. a violent disturbance of affairs, as a civil, political, social, or domestic commotion.
7. a violent outburst or outbreak of expression: a storm of applause.
8. Informal. See storm window .
9. storm in a teacup . See teacup (def. 3).
v.i.
10. (of the wind or weather) to blow with unusual force, or to rain, snow, hail, etc., esp. with violence (usually used impersonally with it as subject): It stormed all day.
11. to rage or complain with violence or fury: He stormed angrily at me.
12. to deliver a violent attack or fire, as with artillery: The troops stormed against the garrison.
13. to rush to an assault or attack: The tanks stormed towards the city.
14. to rush angrily: to storm out of a room.
v.t.
15. to subject to or as if to a storm: The salesman stormed them with offers.
16. to utter or say with angry vehemence: The strikers stormed their demands.
17. to attack or assault (persons, places, or things): to storm a fortress.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME, OE; c. D storm, G Sturm, ON stormr; (v.) ME stormen, deriv. of the n. (cf. obs. sturme, ME sturmen, OE styrman, denominative v. from the same Gmc base as storm ); akin to STIR 1 ]
Syn. 1. gale, hurricane, tempest, tornado, cyclone, squall, wind, blizzard.