Cloudbursts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sharp and heavy rainstorm that comes unexpectedly, often resulting in rapid flooding in specific locations
2. An intense and sudden shower of rain that leads to significant and swift inundation in a localized area
3. A brief but powerful downpour of rain occurring suddenly, often causing rapid water accumulation

Etymology: "Cloudbursts" is the plural of "cloudburst," a compound of "cloud" and "burst." The image behind it is literal: a cloud seems to split open and release its water all at once. "Burst" here carries its old sense of a sudden breaking open or bursting forth, the same action as a bursting dam or a burst pipe, so the word describes a sudden release rather than a steady fall. The plural simply counts separate episodes of this kind of heavy rainfall. Because each one is a single sudden event, the word attaches naturally to particular storms in a way that gentler words for rain do not.

Synonyms: downpour, deluge, rainstorm, flood, storm