storm

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 very bad weather with strong winds and rain, and often THUNDER and LIGHTNING: fierce / heavy / violent storms * A few minutes later the storm broke (= began). * I think we're in for a storm (= going to have one). * storm damage -< WEATHER 2 (in compounds) very bad weather of the type mentioned: a thunderstorm / snowstorm / sandstorm seealsoELECTRICSTORM, RAINSTORM 3 ~ (of sth) a situation in which a lot of people suddenly express very strong feelings about sth: a storm of protest / controversy 4 ~ of sth a sudden loud noise that is caused by emotion or excitement SYNROAR: a storm of applause / weeping seealsoBRAINSTORM IDIOMS a storm in a teacup (BrE) (AmE a tempest in a teapot) a lot of anger or worry about sth that is not important take sth/sb by storm 1 to be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people: The play took London by storm. 2 to attack a place suddenly and capture it moreatCALMn., PORT verb 1 to suddenly attack a place: [VN] Police stormed the building and captured the gunman. * The embassy was stormed by demonstrators. * [V] Soldiers stormed into the city at dawn. 2 [V+adv./prep.] to go somewhere quickly and in an angry, noisy way: She stormed into my office waving a newspaper. * He burst into tears and stormed off. 3 [Vspeech] (written) to say sth in a loud angry way: 'Don't you know who I am?' she stormed.