noun
typhoon
tye-FOON/taɪˈfuːn/
A powerful tropical cyclone in the western Pacific.
A powerful typhoon brings heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan.
Etymology
The tropical-storm sense apparently comes from tufan, “big cyclonic storm.” Greek typhōn, “whirlwind,” may also have influenced the English word, so its ancestry is not entirely settled.
In context
Before a typhoon is seen clearly, it is often heard. Wind begins pushing through trees. Rain strikes harder surfaces.
More examples
- The approaching typhoon forces schools across southern Japan to close.
- Several typhoons struck the Philippines last year.
- We stock up on drinking water before the typhoon arrives.
Forms
typhoon · typhoons