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storm

1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind, rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often, a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied with wind or not. We hear this fearful tempest sing, yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. (Shak)

2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult. I will stir up in England some black storm. (Shak) Her sister Began to scold and raise up such a storm. (Shak)

3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence. A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. (pope)

4. A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like.

Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like. Magnetic storm. See Magnetic. Storm-and-stress period [a translation of G. Sturm und drang periode], a designation given to the literary agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under the lead of Goethe and schiller in the latter part of the 18th century.

(Science: meteorology) Storm c cb1 enter, any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather. Storm scud. See the note under Cloud.

Synonym: Tempest, violence, agitation, calamity.

Storm, Tempest. Storm is violent agitation, a commotion of the elements by wind, etc, but not necessarily implying the fall of anything from the clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as those common on the coast of Italy, where the term originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain, with lightning and thunder. Storms beat, and rolls the main; O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain. (pope) What at first was called a gust, the same Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name. (Donne)

Origin: AS. Storm; akin to D. Storm, G. Sturm, Icel. Stormr; and perhaps to Gr. Assault, onset, Skr. S to flow, to hasten, or perhaps to L. Sternere to strew, prostrate (cf. Stratum). 166.