Word
sandstorm
Phoneticssand·storm, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsændˌstɔɹm/
UK/sˈændstɔːm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a strong wind that carries a lot of sand and dust through the air. It often makes it hard to see and can damage things in its path.
n. a meteorological event characterized by strong winds that lift large amounts of sand and dust into the atmosphere. Common in arid and semi-arid regions where loose soil is easily displaced.
Examples
“The sandstorm made the desert road look like a gray wall.”
“Travelers in the Sahara often seek shelter in a cave to wait out a sandstorm that can last for several hours.”
“While a sandstorm can provide a natural source of mineral-rich dust for distant ecosystems, it also poses significant risks to infrastructure and human health through abrasion and respiratory irritation.”
Examples
simple
“The sandstorm made the desert road look like a gray wall.”
contextual
“Travelers in the Sahara often seek shelter in a cave to wait out a sandstorm that can last for several hours.”
complex
“While a sandstorm can provide a natural source of mineral-rich dust for distant ecosystems, it also poses significant risks to infrastructure and human health through abrasion and respiratory irritation.”
Etymology
From sand + storm.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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