storm

n. [ AS. storm; akin to D. storm, G. sturm, Icel. stormr; and perhaps to Gr. &unr_; assault, onset, Skr. s&unr_; to flow, to hasten, or perhaps to L. sternere to strew, prostrate (cf. Stratum). √166. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

We hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will stir up in England some black storm. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence. [ 1913 Webster ]

A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anticyclonic storm (Meteor.), a storm characterized by a central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often by clear sky. Called also high-area storm, anticyclone. When attended by high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures such storms have various local names, as blizzard, wet norther, purga, buran, etc. --
Cyclonic storm. (Meteor.) A cyclone, or low-area storm. See Cyclone, above. --
Magnetic storm. See under 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. --
Storm center (Meteorol.), the center of the area covered by a storm, especially by a storm of large extent. --
Storm door (Arch.), an extra outside door to prevent the entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; -- usually removed in summer. --
Storm path (Meteorol.), the course over which a storm, or storm center, travels. --
Storm petrel. (Zool.) See Stormy petrel, under Petrel. --
Storm sail (Naut.), any one of a number of strong, heavy sails that are bent and set in stormy weather. --
Storm scud. See the Note under Cloud. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Storms beat, and rolls the main;
O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

What at first was called a gust, the same
Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]