Wiktionary
n. (context meteorology English) A tapering cloud descending from a larger storm cloud, indicating the presence of an intense vortex. A tornado is a funnel cloud which reaches the ground.
Wikipedia
A funnel cloud is a funnel-shaped cloud of condensed water droplets, associated with a rotating column of wind and extending from the base of a cloud (usually a cumulonimbus or towering cumulus cloud) but not reaching the ground or a water surface. A funnel cloud is usually visible as a cone-shaped or needle like protuberance from the main cloud base. Funnel clouds form most frequently in association with supercell thunderstorms.
If a funnel cloud touches the ground it becomes a tornado. Most tornadoes begin as funnel clouds, but many funnel clouds do not make ground contact and so do not become tornadoes. Also, a tornado does not necessarily need to have an associated condensation funnel—if strong cyclonic winds are occurring at the surface (and connected to a cloud base, regardless of condensation), then the feature is a tornado. Some tornadoes may appear only as a debris swirl, with no obvious funnel cloud extending below the rotating cloud base.
In cloud nomenclature, any funnel- or inverted-funnel-shaped cloud depending from cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds is technically described as an accessory feature called tuba. The terms tuba and funnel cloud are nearly but not exactly synonymous; a wall cloud, for example, is also a form of tuba.
Funnel Cloud is the fourth album by folk rock band Hem. It was released on Nettwerk on September 5, 2006. Considered the band's most ambitious work to date, they recorded the album accompanied by a 21-piece orchestra, as well as James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins.
The concept was conceived on the day of lead singer Sally Ellyson's wedding, during which the party had to evacuate to storm cellars due to a number of tornadoes that touched down in the area.
Usage examples of "funnel cloud".
He peered out at the blackness over the corn, half hoping for, half dreading, the sight of a daggerlike funnel cloud.
Suddenly a long funnel cloud dropped from the parent mass and with its end whipping like a snake, groped at the buildings below.
The funnel cloud hopped like a kid on a pogo stick, and one of the choppers was caught in the whirlwind.
Spinning and roaring like a great whirlpool, the black funnel cloud looked to be nearly an eighth of a mile across and less than that in proximity to them.
The sea was spewing a dark, whirling funnel cloud, electricity sparking within it to reveal the razor-toothed flying creatures within it.
To the west, far beyond the river and high above the tree line, a slim funnel cloud dipped downward.
They massed into a funnel cloud, and marched toward them over the water's surface, churning up huge waves.
But as the earth trembled and the shimmer took solid form, a funnel cloud, spinning, flecked with glittering points of light, his resolve slipped away.
A dark swirling energy created a small funnel cloud where he once stood and began uprooting porcelain, crashing the commode, sink, splintering tiles away from the mortar in rage.
That cut off the nasty wind, but the roaring of the approach of the funnel cloud still grew louder.
Nicolae plunged straight down, chasing after the falling man as he dropped toward the rising funnel cloud.