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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Cloud \Cloud\ (kloud), n. [Prob. fr. AS. cl[=u]d a rock or
hillock, the application arising from the frequent
resemblance of clouds to rocks or hillocks in the sky or
air.]
1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles,
suspended in the upper atmosphere.
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I do set my bow in the cloud. --Gen. ix. 13.
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Note: A classification of clouds according to their chief
forms was first proposed by the meteorologist Howard,
and this is still substantially employed. The following
varieties and subvarieties are recognized:
(a) Cirrus. This is the most elevated of all the forms
of clouds; is thin, long-drawn, sometimes looking like
carded wool or hair, sometimes like a brush or room,
sometimes in curl-like or fleecelike patches. It is
the cat's-tail of the sailor, and the mare's-tail of
the landsman.
(b) Cumulus. This form appears in large masses of a
hemispherical form, or nearly so, above, but flat
below, one often piled above another, forming great
clouds, common in the summer, and presenting the
appearance of gigantic mountains crowned with snow. It
often affords rain and thunder gusts.
(c) Stratus. This form appears in layers or bands
extending horizontally.
(d) Nimbus. This form is characterized by its uniform
gray tint and ragged edges; it covers the sky in
seasons of continued rain, as in easterly storms, and
is the proper rain cloud. The name is sometimes used
to denote a raining cumulus, or cumulostratus.
(e) Cirro-cumulus. This form consists, like the cirrus,
of thin, broken, fleecelice clouds, but the parts are
more or less rounded and regulary grouped. It is
popularly called mackerel sky.
(f) Cirro-stratus. In this form the patches of cirrus
coalesce in long strata, between cirrus and stratus.
(g) Cumulo-stratus. A form between cumulus and stratus,
often assuming at the horizon a black or bluish tint.
-- Fog, cloud, motionless, or nearly so, lying near
or in contact with the earth's surface. -- Storm
scud, cloud lying quite low, without form, and driven
rapidly with the wind.
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2. A mass or volume of smoke, or flying dust, resembling
vapor. "A thick cloud of incense." --Ezek. viii. 11.
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3. A dark vein or spot on a lighter material, as in marble;
hence, a blemish or defect; as, a cloud upon one's
reputation; a cloud on a title.
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4. That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect;
that which temporarily overshadows, obscures, or
depresses; as, a cloud of sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud
upon the intellect.
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5. A great crowd or multitude; a vast collection. "So great a
cloud of witnesses." --Heb. xii. 1.
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6. A large, loosely-knitted scarf, worn by women about the
head.
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Cloud on a (or the) title (Law), a defect of title,
usually superficial and capable of removal by release,
decision in equity, or legislation.
To be under a cloud, to be under suspicion or in disgrace;
to be in disfavor.
In the clouds, in the realm of facy and imagination; beyond
reason; visionary.
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