turbulence
gb/tˈɚbjələns/ us/tˈɚbjələns/
B2
English
turbulencia, zűrzavar, érzelmi zűrzavar
NOUN
B2
1
turbulencia
B2
Usage pattern:
turbulence on/during [a flight]
The plane hit turbulence over the mountains, and the seat-belt sign came on.
A gép a hegyek fölött turbulenciába került, és bekapcsolt a biztonságiöv-jelzés.
We had a few minutes of severe turbulence, then the ride smoothed out.
Néhány percig erős turbulencia volt, aztán simább lett a repülés.
The pilot warned us to expect turbulence during descent.
Learner examples
There was turbulence, so I kept my seat belt on.
Turbulencia volt, ezért becsatolva hagytam a biztonsági övemet.
The flight was smooth with no turbulence.
A repülés nyugodt volt, turbulencia nélkül.
Common mistake:
Usually uncountable in this meaning ("turbulence," not "a turbulence").
Meaning
rough air during a flight
Collocations
severe turbulence
|light turbulence
|moderate turbulence
|turbulence ahead
|hit turbulence
|experience turbulence
|turbulence on the flight
|a patch of turbulence
|unexpected turbulence
|turbulence warning
Synonyms
rough air (Plain, informal phrase used especially in aviation contexts.)
|
bumpiness (More general and less technical; focuses on the feeling.)
Antonyms
smooth air (Air conditions that do not cause the aircraft to shake.)
|
calm (General opposite idea of no disturbance.)
Themes
travel
|aviation
|weather
Definition
rough air that makes a plane move suddenly.
sudden, irregular movement of air that makes an aircraft shake or move up and down in flight.
NOUN
C1
2
turbulencia
C1
zűrzavar
B2
Usage pattern:
turbulence in [a country/market/organization]
The company went through turbulence after the merger.
A vállalat az egyesülés után komoly turbulenciát élt át.
The region has faced years of political turbulence.
A térség évek óta politikai turbulenciával küzd.
Market turbulence made investors more cautious.
Learner examples
There is turbulence in the economy.
Turbulencia van a gazdaságban.
After the change, the team had a time of turbulence.
A változás után a csapat egy ideig zűrzavaros időszakot élt át.
Common mistake:
Often used as an uncountable noun; avoid adding -s unless talking about separate kinds/episodes in a technical sense.
Meaning
a period of instability or trouble
Collocations
political turbulence
|economic turbulence
|market turbulence
|social turbulence
|a period of turbulence
|years of turbulence
|financial turbulence
|turbulence in the region
|widespread turbulence
|cause turbulence
Synonyms
instability (More neutral; emphasizes lack of steadiness rather than conflict.)
|
upheaval (Stronger; suggests dramatic change and disruption.)
|
turmoil (Emphasizes confusion and disorder.)
Antonyms
stability (A steady condition without major disruption.)
|
calm (A peaceful situation with little conflict or uncertainty.)
Themes
politics
|business
|society
Definition
a time of trouble and sudden change.
a time when a situation is unsettled and changing unpredictably, often with conflict, uncertainty, or serious problems.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
turbulencia
C1
Usage pattern:
turbulence in [air/water/flow]
The bridge supports were designed to reduce turbulence in the water.
A híd pilléreit úgy tervezték, hogy csökkentsék a víz turbulenciáját.
Turbulence mixes warmer and cooler air in the atmosphere.
A turbulencia összekeveri a melegebb és a hűvösebb levegőt a légkörben.
The simulation predicts where turbulence will form behind the object.
Learner examples
The water had turbulence near the rocks.
A vízben turbulencia alakult ki a sziklák közelében.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "turbulences" in general writing; in science it is usually treated as uncountable.
Meaning
chaotic movement in a fluid
Collocations
atmospheric turbulence
|water turbulence
|flow turbulence
|turbulence in the wake
|turbulence levels
|turbulence increases
|turbulence forms
|reduce turbulence
|turbulence effects
|turbulence measurements
Synonyms
eddy motion (More specific; focuses on circular currents within the flow.)
|
swirl (Less technical; refers to circular movement but not necessarily the full concept.)
Antonyms
laminar flow (Smooth, orderly flow with little mixing.)
|
smooth flow (Non-technical opposite describing steady movement.)
Themes
science
|weather
|engineering
Definition
air or water moving in a rough, swirling way.
irregular, swirling motion in a fluid such as air or water, as opposed to smooth, steady flow.
NOUN
C1
4
Usage pattern:
turbulence in [someone's life/mind]
He hid the turbulence he felt after the breakup.
Titkolta a szakítás után érzett érzelmi zűrzavarát.
The book describes the emotional turbulence of adolescence.
A könyv a kamaszkor érzelmi zűrzavarát írja le.
Meditation helped her calm the turbulence in her mind.
Learner examples
She felt a lot of emotional turbulence.
Nagy érzelmi zűrzavart érzett.
He wanted peace, not turbulence.
Nyugalmat akart, nem zűrzavart.
Common mistake:
In this meaning it is usually uncountable and often used with "emotional" or "inner."
Meaning
strong emotional upset
Collocations
emotional turbulence
|inner turbulence
|personal turbulence
|teenage turbulence
|feel turbulence
|turbulence in his life
|a time of turbulence
|periods of turbulence
Synonyms
turmoil (Very close; emphasizes confusion and distress.)
|
upset (More everyday and less intense.)
|
anguish (Stronger; focuses on suffering rather than instability.)
Antonyms
peace of mind (A calm, settled emotional state.)
|
contentment (A steady feeling of satisfaction.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
Definition
strong, confused feelings, often stress or worry.
a state of intense emotional disturbance, confusion, or anxiety.
Grammar
Dictionary form
turbulence
IPA
GB/tˈɚbjələns/
US/tˈɚbjələns/
Syllables & stress
tur - bu - lence (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: turbulence
- Plural: turbulence, turbulences
Expressions
clear-air turbulence
1/klˈɪɹ ˈɛɹ tˈɚbjələns/
fixed phrase
technical
turbulence with no visible clouds
turbulence in a clear sky.
Examples
- The aircraft encountered clear-air turbulence at cruising altitude.
- Clear-air turbulence can happen even when the sky looks calm.
Learner examples
- We had clear-air turbulence in the middle of the flight.
turbulence model
1/tˈɚbjələns mˈɑdəl/
fixed phrase
technical
mathematical model of turbulent flow
a way to calculate turbulence in a computer model.
Examples
- The results depend strongly on the turbulence model you choose.
- Engineers used a turbulence model to predict airflow over the wing.
turbulence warning
1/tˈɚbjələns wˈɔɹnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
alert about rough air
a warning that the plane may shake.
Examples
- The captain gave a turbulence warning and asked everyone to sit down.
- We got a turbulence warning about ten minutes before the bumps started.
Learner examples
- They gave a turbulence warning.
wake turbulence
1/wˈeɪk tˈɚbjələns/
fixed phrase
technical
air disturbance behind an aircraft
turbulence caused by a plane ahead.
Examples
- Air traffic control increased spacing to avoid wake turbulence.
- Small planes are more affected by wake turbulence from larger jets.
Learner examples
- The pilot waited to avoid wake turbulence.