ˈsīˌklōn noun
( -s )
Etymology: modification of Greek kyklōma wheel, coil of a snake, from kyklos wheel, circle — more at wheel
1.
a. : a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern, advances at a speed of 20 to 30 miles an hour, is often violent in the tropics and usually moderate elsewhere, often brings abundant precipitation, and usually has a diameter of 50 to 900 miles — see anticyclone , extratropical cyclone , tropical cyclone
b. chiefly Midwest : tornado
2. : something felt to resemble a cyclone especially in violence or intensity
his story provoked a cyclone of laughter
3. or cyclone collector also cyclone separator : any of certain centrifugal devices for separating solid material from gases or liquids (as dust particles from air or skins and seeds from fruit juice)
Synonyms: see wind