funnel cloud

English

Noun

funnel cloud (plural funnel clouds)

1. (meteorology) A tapering, rapidly rotating cloud descending from a larger storm cloud, indicating the presence of an intense vortex. A tornado is a funnel cloud which reaches the ground.

   When we saw the funnel cloud, we headed for the basement.

Synonyms

• cumulonimbus tuba

Translations

tapering cloud

• Finnish: suppilopilvi
• Italian: nube ad imbuto
• Thai: เมฆงวง (mek nguang)