From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Storm \Storm\, n. [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}). [root]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.
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We hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. --Shak.
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2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political,
or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war;
violent outbreak; clamor; tumult.
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I will stir up in England some black storm. --Shak.
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Her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm. --Shak.
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3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous
force; violence.
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A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.
--Pope.
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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.
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Note: Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained
compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof,
storm-tossed, and the like.
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{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}.
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Syn: Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.
Usage: {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.
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Storms beat, and rolls the main;
O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in
vain. --Pope.
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What at first was called a gust, the same
Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name.
--Donne.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Blizzard \Bliz"zard\ (bl[i^]z"z[~e]rd), n. [Cf. {Blaze} to
flash. Formerly, in local use, a rattling volley; cf. "to
blaze away" to fire away.]
A gale of piercingly cold wind, usually accompanied with fine
and blinding snow; a furious blast. [U. S.]
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
blizzard
n 1: a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong
winds [syn: {blizzard}, {snowstorm}]
2: a series of unexpected and unpleasant occurrences; "a rash of
bank robberies"; "a blizzard of lawsuits" [syn: {rash},
{blizzard}]
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