English Reference
Noun

sandstorm

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsændˌstɔɹm/ UK /sˈændstɔːm/ sand·storm UK spelling sandstorms

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.


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.


From sand + storm.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated