typhoon

typhoon — noun

1. A typhoon is a very large and violent storm that moves in a circle, carrying ext

1.nounB1
Definition

A typhoon is a very large and violent storm that moves in a circle, carrying extremely strong winds and heavy rain. It forms over warm ocean water near East and Southeast Asia.

Example

The typhoon destroyed several villages along the coast of Vietnam.

typhoon + destroy + [geographic area]

Emre checked the weather report as the typhoon moved closer to the city.

typhoon moves closer — approaching pattern

Common collocations
  • powerful typhoon
  • typhoon hits / hit
  • typhoon strikes / struck
  • typhoon approaches / approached
  • typhoon passes / passed
  • typhoon warning
  • typhoon season
Synonyms
  • hurricane

    Same type of storm but in the Atlantic or Northeast Pacific; more common in American English

  • cyclone

    Same type of storm but in the Indian Ocean or South Pacific

  • tropical storm

    A weaker storm with lower wind speeds before it reaches typhoon strength

Grammar Patterns

typhoon + verb (hit, strike, approach, pass)

adjective + typhoon (powerful, strong, destructive)

Usage Note

A typhoon is the same type of storm as a hurricane or a tropical cyclone. The name depends on which ocean the storm forms in: typhoon in the Northwest Pacific, hurricane in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, and cyclone in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone describe the same weather phenomenon — a powerful rotating storm with very strong winds. The only difference is location: typhoons form in the Northwest Pacific (near East Asia), hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. A tropical storm is a weaker version of any of these, with wind speeds between 63 and 118 km/h. For example: 'A typhoon hit Taiwan in July' and 'A hurricane damaged parts of Florida' describe the same type of event in different regions.

typhoon ↗hurricane ↗cyclone ↗tropical storm

Common collocations

Nouns

  • typhoon season
  • typhoon warning
  • typhoon shelter
  • typhoon damage
  • typhoon victim

Phrases

  • typhoon-hit area
  • typhoon-related news
  • typhoon-force winds

Prepositions

  • during a typhoon
  • in a typhoon
  • before the typhoon
  • after the typhoon

Etymology

GreekArabicChinesePortugueseEnglish

The word 'typhoon' entered English in the 1500s through contact between Portuguese sailors and Asian cultures. It blends several sources: the Greek 'Typhon', a giant storm monster; the Arabic 'ṭūfān' (طوفان), meaning a great flood; and the Chinese 大風 (daaih fung, 'big wind') or 颱風 (toih fung). The spelling and meaning we use today were shaped by all these influences.