KEY WORDS

storms |stôrm|

noun

1 a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.

• (also storm system) an intense low-pressure weather system; a cyclone.

• a wind of force 10 on the Beaufort scale (48–55 knots or 55-63 mph).

• a heavy discharge of missiles or blows : two men were taken by a storm of bullets.

2 [usu. in sing. ] a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy : the book caused a storm in South America | she has been at the center of a storm concerning payments.

• a violent or noisy outburst of a specified feeling or reaction : the disclosure raised a storm of protest.

3 ( storms) storm windows.

4 a direct assault by troops on a fortified place.

verb

1 [ intrans. ] move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction : she burst into tears and stormed off | he stormed out of the house.

• [with direct speech ] shout (something) angrily; rage : “Don't patronize me!” she stormed.

• move forcefully and decisively to a specified position in a game or contest : he barged past and stormed to the checkered flag.

2 [ trans. ] (of troops) suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of force : Indian commandos stormed a hijacked plane early today | [as n. ] ( storming) the storming of the Bastille. See note at attack .

3 [ intrans. ] (of the weather) be violent, with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow : when it stormed in the day, I shoveled the drive before Harry came home.

shipwreck |ˈ sh ipˌrek|

noun

the destruction of a ship at sea by sinking or breaking up, e.g., in a storm or after running aground.

• a ship so destroyed : the detritus of a forgotten shipwreck in an Arctic sea.

verb ( be shipwrecked)

(of a person or ship) suffer a shipwreck : he was shipwrecked off the coast of Sardinia and nearly drowned | figurative her right to a fair trial might be shipwrecked by prosecutorial misconduct.

­weather |ˈweðər|

noun

the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc. : if the weather's good, we can go for a walk.

• a report on such conditions as broadcast on radio or television.

• cold, wet, and unpleasant or unpredictable atmospheric conditions; the elements : stone walls provide shelter from wind and weather.

• [as adj. ] denoting the side from which the wind is blowing, esp. on board a ship; windward : the weather side of the yacht. Contrasted with lee .

verb [ trans. ]

1 wear away or change the appearance or texture of (something) by long exposure to the atmosphere : [ trans. ] his skin was weathered almost black by his long outdoor life | [as adj. ] ( weathered) chemically weathered rock.

• [ intrans. ] (of rock or other material) be worn away or altered by such processes : the ice sheet preserves specimens that would weather away more quickly in other regions.

• [usu. as n. ] ( weathering) Falconry allow (a hawk) to spend a period perched on a block in the open air.

2 come safely through (a storm).

• withstand (a difficulty or danger) : this year has tested industry's ability to weather recession.

• Sailing (of a ship) get to the windward of (a cape or other obstacle).

3 make (boards or tiles) overlap downward to keep out rain.

• (in building) slope or bevel (a surface) to throw off rain.

rust |rəst|

noun

1 a reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating of iron oxide that is formed on iron or steel by oxidation, esp. in the presence of moisture.

• figurative a state of deterioration or disrepair resulting from neglect or lack of use : they are here to scrape the rust off the derelict machinery of government.

2 [usu. with adj. ] a fungal disease of plants that results in reddish or brownish patches. • The fungi belong to Puccinia and other genera, order Uredinales, class Teliomycetes.

3 a reddish-brown color : [in combination ] his rust-colored hair.

verb [ intrans. ]

be affected with rust : the blades had rusted away | [as adj. ] ( rusting) rusting machinery.

• figurative deteriorate through neglect or lack of use.

decay |diˈkā|

verb [ intrans. ]

(of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi : [as adj. ] ( decayed) a decayed cabbage leaf | [as adj. ] ( decaying) the odor of decaying fish.

• [ trans. ] cause to rot or decompose : the fungus will decay soft timber.

• (of a building or area) fall into disrepair; deteriorate : urban neighborhoods decay when elevated freeways replace surface roads.

• decline in quality, power, or vigor : the moral authority of the party was decaying.

• Physics (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation : the trapped radiocarbon begins to decay at a known rate.

• technical (of a physical quantity) undergo a gradual decrease : the time taken for the current to decay to zero.

noun

the state or process of rotting or decomposition : hardwood is more resistant to decay than softwood | tooth decay.

• structural or physical deterioration : the old barn rapidly fell into decay.

• rotten matter or tissue : fluoride heals small spots of decay.

• the process of declining in quality, power, or vigor : preachers warning of moral decay.

• Physics the change of a radioactive substance, particle, etc., into another by the emission of radiation : the gas radon is produced by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil.

• technical gradual decrease in the magnitude of a physical quantity : the decay of electrical fields in the electromagnets.