ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tornadoes

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //tɔɹˈneɪdoʊz// UK //tɔːnˈeɪdəʊz// tor·na·does

n. violent, spinning funnels of air that reach from a storm cloud down to the ground. They are very powerful and can destroy buildings in their path.

n. violently rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground, typically visible as a funnel-shaped cloud. Often associated with supercell storms and extreme wind speeds.


SIMPLE

The sirens warned the town that tornadoes were approaching.

CONTEXTUAL

The Midwest is famous for its frequent tornadoes, which often occur during the spring and summer months.

COMPLEX

Meteorologists use Doppler radar to detect the rotation within a storm that might produce tornadoes, providing residents with critical minutes to seek shelter.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of 'tornado'. Both 'tornadoes' and 'tornados' are accepted spellings, though the former is more common in standard English.

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