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). √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.
We hear this fearful tempest sing,
Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. Shak.
2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political, or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war; violent outbreak; clamor; tumult.
I will stir up in England some black storm. Shak.
Her sister
Began to scold and raise up such a storm. Shak.
3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous force; violence.
A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. Pope.
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.
☞ Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof, storm-tossed, and the like.
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. (Zoöl.) 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.
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.
Storms beat, and rolls the main;
O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in vain. Pope.
What at first was called a gust, the same
Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name. Donne.