storm

 
Pronunciation: /stɔːm/

noun

  • 1a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
  • (also storm system) an intense low-pressure weather system; a cyclone.
  • a wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale (48-55 knots or 88-102 kph).
  • a heavy discharge of missiles or blows: two men were taken by a storm of bullets
  • 2a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy: the book caused a storm in America the manager is at the centre of a drugs storm in Germany
  • a vehement outburst of a specified feeling or reaction: the disclosure raised a storm of protest
  • 3 (storms) North American storm windows.
  • 4a direct assault by troops on a fortified place.

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction: she burst into tears and stormed off he stormed out of the house
  • [with direct speech] shout (something) angrily; rage: ‘Don’t patronize me!’ she stormed
  • move forcefully and decisively to a specified position in a game or contest: Chester stormed back with two goals in five minutes
  • 2 [with object] (of troops) suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of force: commandos stormed a hijacked plane early today (as noun storming) the storming of the Bastille
  • 3 [no object] (it storms, it is storming, etc.) (of the weather) be violent, with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.

Phrases

go down a storm

be enthusiastically received by an audience: the film went down a storm at Cannes

the lull (or calm) before the storm

a period of unusual tranquillity or stability that seems likely to presage difficult times.

storm and stress

another term for Sturm und Drang.

a storm in a teacup

British great outrage or excitement about a trivial matter.

take something by storm

(of troops) capture a place by a sudden and violent attack.
have great and rapid success in a particular place or with a particular group of people: his first collection took the fashion world by storm

—— up a storm

chiefly North American perform the specified action with great enthusiasm and energy: the band could really play up a storm

Derivatives

stormproof

adjective

Origin:

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch storm and German Sturm, probably also to the verb stir1. The verb dates from late Middle English in storm (sense 3 of the verb)