hailstorm

IPA/ˈheɪlstɔːm/
KK[hˈelstˌɔrm]IPA/ˈheɪlstɔːrm/

hailstorm — noun

  • hailstormsingular
  • hailstormsplural

1. a weather event in which frozen raindrops fall to the ground as hard pieces of i

1.nounB1
Definition

a weather event in which frozen raindrops fall to the ground as hard pieces of ice, often causing damage

Example

The hailstorm damaged the roof of Mrs. Chen's house and broke three windows.

collocation: damaged + roof / broke + windows — damage description

Farmers in the region lost almost half their crops after the unexpected hailstorm.

collocation: unexpected hailstorm

Common collocations
  • heavy hailstorm
  • severe hailstorm
  • sudden hailstorm
  • unexpected hailstorm
  • violent hailstorm
Synonyms
  • storm

    broader term; a hailstorm is a specific type of storm with frozen precipitation

  • thunderstorm

    similar severe weather but with thunder and lightning; may or may not include hail

  • snowstorm

    different precipitation — snow instead of ice pellets; usually less damaging to property

Grammar Patterns

a + hailstorm

the + hailstorm

Usage Note

Frequently used with adjectives describing severity: 'heavy', 'severe', 'sudden', or 'unexpected'. Subject of verbs like 'damage', 'destroy', 'force', 'move' when describing effects and movement.

Common Mistakes

There was a big hail outside.
There was a hailstorm outside.
'hail' refers to the frozen ice itself, while 'hailstorm' refers to the entire weather event.
The hailstorm hailed for an hour.
The hailstorm lasted for an hour.
'hail' as a verb already describes the ice falling; using it with 'hailstorm' as subject is redundant.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe types of severe weather. A 'storm' is the broadest term — any violent weather with strong wind, rain, snow, or hail. A 'thunderstorm' adds lightning and thunder; it may produce hail but does not always do so. A 'blizzard' involves heavy snow and strong winds, not frozen rain. A 'downpour' refers to very heavy rain only — no ice involvement. A 'hailstorm' is distinct because the precipitation is solid ice (hail) rather than rain or snow, and it can cause property damage that the other types may not. For example: 'The thunderstorm brought lightning but no hail, unlike the hailstorm last week that dented cars.' And: 'A downpour soaked the garden, but only a hailstorm could have broken the greenhouse windows.'

storm ↗thunderstorm ↗blizzarddownpour ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hailstorm damage
  • hailstorm warning
  • hailstorm season
  • hailstorm insurance

Phrases

  • caught in a hailstorm
  • survive a hailstorm
  • predict a hailstorm

Prepositions

  • during a hailstorm
  • after a hailstorm
  • in a hailstorm
  • before a hailstorm

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Combines two Old English words: 'hægl' or 'hagol' (meaning frozen rain) and 'storm' (meaning a violent weather event). Both elements have been in English since before the year 1000, forming a transparent compound whose parts have changed little in meaning.