Microbursts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rapid and localized outflow of air that occurs when downward winds from a storm hit the ground and rapidly disperse in all directions
2. An intense and brief downward air movement stemming from a thunderstorm that creates strong surface winds as it spreads outward
3. Brief explosions of strong, downward-moving air produced by thunderstorms that spread swiftly across the ground

Etymology: Microbursts is simply the plural of "microburst," a compound built from the prefix "micro-" and the noun "burst." The prefix comes from the Ancient Greek "mīkrós," meaning "small," which entered English through scientific Latinized forms. "Burst" is an older English word, so the term combines a classical element with a plain Germanic one. The compound describes a phenomenon that meteorologists needed to name precisely. A microburst is a small, intense column of sinking air from a thunderstorm, spreading outward when it hits the ground. The name was chosen to distinguish it from larger downdrafts, so the prefix does the real work: the event is a burst of air, but a small one. The combination is a plain technical coinage rather than an old word with a dramatic history. Its meaning comes straight from its parts, which is why the word is easy to decode even for readers who have never encountered it before.

Synonyms: downbursts