I. ˈstȯ(ə)rm, -ȯ(ə)m noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Saxon & Middle Dutch storm, Old High German sturm, Old Norse stormr storm, Old English styrian to stir — more at stir
1.
a. : a violent disturbance of the atmosphere attended by wind and usually by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning : tempest — see tropical storm ; compare cyclone , hurricane
b. : a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail whether accompanied with wind or not
c. : stormy weather
captured their … varying moods in sun, storm and snow, — British Book News
d. : wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles per hour — see beaufort scale table
e. : a serious disturbance of any element of nature
ionospheric storm
— see magnetic storm
2. : a disturbed or agitated state : a sudden or violent commotion
the economic storms of the 1930s — Woolworth's First 75 Years
the storms of adolescence
whose life has been a passage through storms of emotion — P.E.More
a storm of birds in the … trees — W.B.Yeats
3.
a. : paroxysm , crisis
b. : a sudden increase in the symptoms of a disease
thyroid storm
c. : a sudden heavy influx or onset
the storm of paperbacks now flooding the country — Harrison Smith
the storm of students now entering college
4. : a heavy discharge of objects (as missiles) or actions (as blows)
a storm of arrows
a storm of petals
5. : a tumultuous outburst
a storm of protests
no words could be heard above the storm of catcalls — E.S.Bates
6. : a violent assault on a defended position
7. storms plural : storm windows
put up the storms
•
- by storm
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English stormen, from storm, n.
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to blow with violence
the wind … stormed in at nearly 40 miles an hour — J.A.Michener
b. : to rain, hail, snow, or sleet especially in a violent manner or with high wind — usually used with it
it was storming in the mountains
2. : to attack by storm
armored divisions storming toward the city
the attackers stormed ashore at sunrise
3. : to be in or to exhibit a violent passion : rage
storming at the unusual delay
4. : to rush about or move impetuously, violently, or angrily
the mob stormed through the streets
jumped into his clothes and stormed over to the office — Nathaniel Benchley
on such occasions the river storms down in a rush — J.H.Moolman
transitive verb
: to attack, take, or win over by storm
storm a fort
trying to storm the public by a mannerism — O.W.Holmes †1935
they simply stormed their audiences — Philip Carr
Synonyms: see attack