cyclone

noun

1. (broadly)Any weather phenomenon consisting of a system of winds rotating around a centre of low atmospheric pressure; a low pressure system.

   “Near-synonym: storm”

2. (specifically)A tropical cyclone occurring in the South Pacific or Indian Ocean.

   “Near-synonyms: typhoon, hurricane”

3. (informal)The more or less violent, small-scale circulations such as tornadoes, waterspouts, and dust devils.
4. (informal)A strong wind.
5. A cyclone separator; the cylindrical vortex tube within such a separator

verb

1. To separate using a cyclone separator.

   “The product is cycloned and overflow at 45-50% solids is pumped to primary flotation where 50-70% of the copper is removed as a 21% concentrate.”

   “The Syncrude Tar Sand Mine in Alberta, Canada uses a similar hydraulic cell construction technique to raise tailings embankments, although tailings are not cycloned.”

   “Some catsup manufacturers demand a hot break before the tomatoes are cycloned in order to retain the largest possible amount of pectin from the tomatoes.”

2. To storm as a cyclone.

   “What difference if it rained, hailed, blew, snowed, cycloned?”

3. To whirl in spirals as a result of a cyclone or whirlwind-like force.

   “White dust was cycloning at the bottom of ravines that cut for miles into the red flatness”

   “Pine needles cycloned wildly as Jan swung her car into the Institute's parking lot.”

   “The unicorn stamped and gave him a scornful look as Sally cycloned away from them, but Wulfric laughed to himself a crafty laugh.”

   “He raised his arms in supplication even as the cloak's hood blew back and his hair cycloned—like he was standing in a vortex.”

4. To storm wildly; to be in a frenzy.

   “When Whyte got an eyeful of our groundsman's Barkjano ass bouncing to a rapid beat, he exploded, not so much in words as in gestures and a rapid departure that contained far greater energy than a trifling “storm”—he cycloned-whirlwinded-squalled and thundergaled out of the house and the whole barbecue.”

   “The winds of change cycloned around Rhodesia and the debris began to fall within its borders.”

   “Now, all of a sudden, I had to juggle class schedules with study time and assignment deadlines and work hours. It quickly cycloned into a sort of frantic agitation with all-nighters, near misses, and frenzied nerves.”