- pronunciation:
- huh
rih
keIn
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun), Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a powerful cyclonic storm that originates in the West Indian region of the Atlantic Ocean or in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean near Mexico and Central America. A hurricane is characterized by heavy rains along with winds exceeding 73 miles, or 119 kilometers, per hour.
A hurricane tore through the town, damaging many homes.
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| related words: |
tempest |
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Hurricane came into English from the Spanish word
huracan. The Spanish word came from
hurakan, which meant "an evil spirit of the sea" in the Taino language once spoken in the West Indies.