supercell

English

Etymology

super- +‎ cell

Noun

supercell (plural supercells)

  1. (meteorology) A severe thunderstorm with updrafts and downdrafts that are in near balance, allowing the storm to maintain itself for several hours. Supercells often produce large hail, powerful downpours, very strong winds and sometimes tornadoes.
    • 1999 May 11, William K. Stevens, “Oklahoma Tornado Offers Hints Of How a Killer Storm Is Born”, in The New York Times‎, ISSN 0362-4331:
      They watched the supercell that spawned the F5 killer that struck Oklahoma City spit out one tornado after another. In two cases, the researchers believe, the Dopplers captured tornadoes being formed — including the Oklahoma City monster.
  2. (mineralogy) A repeating unit cell of a crystal that contains several primitive cells.

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