dictionary definitions for "hurricane"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  hurricane
      n : a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds
          moving a 73-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Hurricane \Hur"ri*cane\, n. [Sp. hurracan; orig. a Carib word
     signifying, a high wind.]
     A violent storm, characterized by extreme fury and sudden
     changes of the wind, and generally accompanied by rain,
     thunder, and lightning; -- especially prevalent in the East
     and West Indies. Also used figuratively.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Like the smoke in a hurricane whirl'd.   --Tennyson.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Each guilty thought to me is
           A dreadful hurricane.                    --Massinger.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Hurricane bird (Zool.), the frigate bird.
  
     Hurricane deck. (Naut.) See under Deck.
        [1913 Webster]


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