Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cyclone” come from?

Cyclone comes from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, ultimately from the root kʷel- meaning to turn or move in a circle.

cyclone (English): A weather phenomenon consisting of a system of...

Definitions

  1. A weather phenomenon consisting of a system of...

Ancestry of “cyclone”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
2Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “cyclone”

  • cyclonic
  • anticyclone
  • anticyclonic
  • hydrocyclone
  • mesocyclone
  • cyclonically
  • anticyclonically
  • multicyclone
  • supercyclone
  • mesocyclonic
  • cyclonelike
  • noncyclonic
  • cyclonoscope
  • anticiclone
  • ciclone
  • anticiclónico
  • ไซโคลน
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →