English

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Etymology

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From snow +‎ storm. Compare Saterland Frisian Sneestoarm, West Frisian sniestoarm, German Schneesturm, Dutch sneeuwstorm, Swedish snöstorm, Icelandic snjóstormur.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈsnəʊstɔːm/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -əʊstɔːm

Noun

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snowstorm (plural snowstorms)

  1. Bad weather involving blowing winds and snow, or blowing winds and heavy snowfall amount.
    • 1826 November 28 (date written), Walter Scott, “[Entry dated 28 November 1826]”, in David Douglas, editor, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott [], volume I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, published 1890, →OCLC, page 24:
      Dined at Melville Castle, whither I went through a snow-storm.
  2. A snow globe.
    • 1947, Dornford Yates, The Berry Scene, Ward, Lock & Co., 273:
      As we made our way down, my eye was caught by a snowstorm—one of those little glass balls, with a baby cottage inside.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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