tsunami
gb/sunˈɑmi/ us/sunˈɑmi/
B2
English
~ 8800
cunami, szökőár, áradat, hullám
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a tsunami hits [a place]
The 2011 tsunami in Japan destroyed thousands of homes along the coast.
A 2011-es japán cunami több ezer házat pusztított el a partvidéken.
After the undersea earthquake, the government issued a tsunami warning for the entire region.
A tenger alatti földrengés után a kormány szökőárriadót rendelt el az egész térségben.
Scientists use buoys in the ocean to detect tsunamis before they reach the shore.
The village practiced a tsunami evacuation drill to prepare for future disasters.
Many tourists were caught by surprise when the tsunami swept through the beachfront area.
Learner examples
A strong earthquake in the ocean can cause a tsunami.
Egy erős tenger alatti földrengés cunamit okozhat.
The town heard the siren and ran to high ground to escape the tsunami.
A város lakói meghallották a szirénát, és magasabban fekvő helyre menekültek a cunami elől.
The tsunami moved very fast across the open sea.
People watched news videos of the huge tsunami hitting the city.
If there is a tsunami warning, you should go away from the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think a tsunami is the same as a normal big wave or a storm like a hurricane. In fact, a tsunami is usually caused by movements of the earth under the sea, not by wind. Another common mistake is to say 'a tsunami is coming because of the tide'; tides are not the main cause of tsunamis.
Meaning
very large sea wave disaster
Collocations
tsunami warning
|tsunami alert
|devastating tsunami
|tsunami evacuation
|tsunami zone
|tsunami waves
Synonyms
tidal wave (Common informal term, but less accurate scientifically because tsunamis are not actually caused by tides.)
|
seismic sea wave (More technical and less common; emphasizes that the wave is caused by an earthquake.)
Antonyms
calm sea (Describes sea conditions without large or dangerous waves, the opposite situation to a tsunami.)
Themes
nature
|science
|disasters
|geography
|weather
Definition
A very big, strong sea wave that is usually made by an earthquake under the sea and that can hit the land and cause a lot of damage.
A very large and powerful sea wave, usually caused by an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide, that can travel long distances and cause serious flooding and damage when it reaches land.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
a tsunami of [something]
The company received a tsunami of complaints after raising its prices overnight.
A vállalat panaszáradatot kapott, miután egyik napról a másikra megemelte az árait.
Social media created a tsunami of support for the charity within just a few hours.
A közösségi média alig néhány óra alatt támogatási hullámot indított el a jótékonysági szervezet mellett.
The small team struggled to handle the tsunami of emails during the crisis.
The scandal unleashed a tsunami of public anger across the country.
The new law triggered a tsunami of changes in the housing market.
Learner examples
After the news, there was a tsunami of messages on his phone.
A hír után üzenetáradat érkezett a telefonjára.
The school got a tsunami of emails from worried parents.
Az iskola e-mail-áradatot kapott az aggódó szülőktől.
She felt a tsunami of sadness when she heard the story.
The website crashed because of a tsunami of visitors.
The decision started a tsunami of online comments.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'tsunami' for any large number, even when 'a lot of' would sound more natural. Because it is a strong metaphor, 'a tsunami of X' should be used only when the amount is very sudden and extremely large. Another mistake is to say 'tsunami about emails' instead of 'tsunami of emails'.
Meaning
sudden overwhelming quantity of things
Collocations
a tsunami of complaints
|a tsunami of emotion
|a tsunami of grief
|a tsunami of change
|a tsunami of information
|a tsunami of refugees
Synonyms
flood (Common figurative term for a very large amount arriving quickly; slightly less dramatic than 'tsunami'.)
|
deluge (Formal or literary word for an overwhelming quantity; similar strength but older in style.)
Antonyms
trickle (Suggests a very small, slow amount, the opposite of a sudden overwhelming flow.)
Themes
metaphor
|emotions
|society
|communication
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very big and sudden amount of something, such as news, emotions, or messages, that is hard to manage.
An extremely large and sudden amount of something, especially when it is difficult to control or deal with, often used figuratively with an abstract noun.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tsunami
IPA
GB/sunˈɑmi/
US/sunˈɑmi/
Syllables & stress
tsunami (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tsunami
- Plural: tsunamis
Word family
Forms
tsunamis
noun
Related words
seismic
adjective C1
earthquake
noun B1
Advanced or less common
tsunamigenic
adjective
Expressions
a tsunami of [something]
1/ə sunˈɑmi əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
a huge sudden amount of something
Used to say that a very large amount of something, such as emails, complaints, or feelings, comes or appears very suddenly.
Examples
- After the product recall, the company faced a tsunami of angry phone calls.
- The charity was surprised by a tsunami of donations after the disaster.
- Her comment online brought a tsunami of criticism from strangers.
tsunami alert
1/sunˈɑmi əlˈɚt/
fixed phrase
urgent message about tsunami threat
A strong and urgent message from officials that there is a danger of a tsunami.
Examples
- Television stations interrupted programs with a tsunami alert.
- The sirens sounded across the city after the tsunami alert.
- People near the coast took the tsunami alert very seriously.
tsunami evacuation route
1/sunˈɑmi ɪvˌækjuˈeɪʃən ɹˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
marked path to escape tsunami
A planned and marked way for people to walk or drive to a safe place if a tsunami comes.
Examples
- Signs showed the tsunami evacuation route away from the beach.
- Residents are told to learn the tsunami evacuation route near their homes.
- The city improved its tsunami evacuation route after the last disaster.
tsunami hazard zone
1/sunˈɑmi hˈæzɚd zˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
area at risk from tsunamis
A place on land that could be hit and flooded if a tsunami happens.
Examples
- The map shows the tsunami hazard zone along the coast.
- New buildings in the tsunami hazard zone must follow strict safety rules.
- Tourists are warned when they enter a tsunami hazard zone.
tsunami warning
1/sunˈɑmi wˈɔɹnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
official alert about possible tsunami
An official message that tells people a tsunami may happen soon in a place.
Examples
- Authorities issued a tsunami warning after the powerful earthquake.
- When the tsunami warning sounded, people ran to higher ground.
- The government lifted the tsunami warning later that evening.
tsunami-prone area
1/sunˈɑmi pɹˈoʊn ˈɛɹiə/
fixed phrase
place where tsunamis often happen
An area where tsunamis can happen quite often because of earthquakes or other natural reasons.
Examples
- Many coastal towns in this tsunami-prone area have early warning systems.
- Living in a tsunami-prone area means you must know the evacuation routes.
- Developers are careful about building hospitals in tsunami-prone areas.