English Reference

Word

hurricane

Phoneticshur·ri·cane

US/ˈhəɹəˌkeɪnz/

UK/hˈʌɹɪkˌeɪn/

Definitions

01a powerful storm

B1

n. a very large and violent storm with extremely strong winds and heavy rain.

n. a severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds exceeding 119 km/h (74 mph), characterized by a low-pressure center and heavy precipitation.

“The coastal town was evacuated before the hurricane reached the shore.”

“Meteorologists tracked the hurricane as it gathered strength over the warm waters of the Atlantic, eventually reaching Category 5 status before making landfall.”

Antonyms

02a forceful rush

B2

n. a sudden, powerful movement or a lot of activity that happens very fast.

n. a figurative use describing a great, forceful onrush or a chaotic burst of activity.

“A hurricane of activity hit the office as the deadline approached.”

“The candidate's arrival sparked a hurricane of media attention, with reporters and photographers jostling for a position near the stage.”

03acrobatic maneuver

C2 · Sport

n. a very difficult move in skiing or gymnastics involving three flips and five twists.

n. a specific aerial maneuver in freestyle skiing consisting of three backflips and five full twists.

“The skier won the gold medal after landing a perfect hurricane.”

“Executing a hurricane requires immense spatial awareness, as the athlete must complete five full rotations while performing three distinct vertical flips.”

Technical

04a cocktail

B2 · Cooking

n. a sweet alcoholic drink made with rum and fruit juice.

n. a sweet alcoholic cocktail typically composed of rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup, traditionally served in a tall, curved glass.

“We sat on the patio and ordered a round of hurricanes.”

“The bartender garnished the hurricane with a bright red cherry and a slice of orange, following the classic New Orleans recipe.”

American English

05to move violently

C1

v. to move very quickly and noisily, often making people notice you.

v. to move or act with the violence or speed of a storm; often used to describe dramatic or chaotic movement.

“He hurricaned into the room, shouting for everyone to listen.”

“The protesters hurricaned through the streets, their collective energy overwhelming the small police presence at the intersection.”

Literary

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

Etymology tree Taíno *hurakābor. Spanish huracánbor. English hurricane Borrowed from Spanish huracán, ultimately from Taíno *hurakā.

Coined by Jeret Peterson.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

hurricane activityhurricane seasonhurricane warning

Related words

Domain

Sports

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/hurricane

English Reference