Gust

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɡʌst/

Definitions

1. A brief and strong flow of wind can also refer to an unexpected surge of feeling or enthusiasm
2. This term denotes a sudden, forceful blast of air as well as an abrupt display of intense emotion or humor
3. A rapid burst of powerful wind ; a quick, intense outpouring of emotion or energy

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "gust" is that it has two unrelated histories that happen to share a spelling. The wind sense seems to come from an unrecorded Middle English "gust", borrowed from Old Norse "gustr", meaning a gust or blast, and traceable back to Proto-Germanic. Its close relatives include "gush", as well as Old Norse "gusa" ("to gush forth") and Old High German "gussa" ("flood"), which hints at the original image of air or water rushing out in a burst. Icelandic still uses "gustur" for a gust of wind. The other "gust" is an entirely separate word for taste, coming through Old French "gust" or "goust" from Latin "gustus". The English verb "gusten", meaning to taste or have a taste for something, was formed from the noun and Latin "gustō". That is the origin of the old sense of "gusto" as hearty enjoyment, and it is a reminder that the wind word and the taste word only met in English by coincidence.

Synonyms: blast, blow, breeze, draft, waft

Antonyms: calm, stillness, tranquility, quiet, silence