turbulent

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɝbjələnt/ UK /ˈtɜːbjələnt/ See IPA manual

Freq #21384

Meanings

1

adj
Full of sudden change, conflict, or disorder.

The mid-19th century was a turbulent time in American history.
2

adj
Moving violently and unsteadily.

It is dangerous to sail in turbulent seas.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · full of sudden change,... riotous

2 adj · moving violently and... churning

Word family

Forms turbulently

Derived forms gravitoturbulentgravoturbulentmacroturbulentmicroturbulentnonturbulentturbulently

Related forms disturb perturb trouble turbid turbine turbulence

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

turbulent flow
fluid movement in which speed and direction fluctuate irregularly

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Turbulent entered English in the later Middle Ages and is related to Latin turba, “a crowd” or “disturbance.” It belongs to the same historical family as trouble, disturb, perturb, and turbid.

Etymology

From Middle English turbulent, from Middle French turbulent, from Latin turbulentus, from turba (“disorder, tumult, crowd”).

turbulent Middle English turbulentus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# turbulent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɝbjələnt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtɜːbjələnt/
**Frequency rank:** 21384

## Meanings
1. Full of sudden change, conflict, or disorder.
2. Moving violently and unsteadily.

## Examples
- The mid-19th century was a turbulent time in American history.
- It is dangerous to sail in turbulent seas.

## Derived Forms
- gravitoturbulent
- gravoturbulent
- macroturbulent
- microturbulent
- nonturbulent
- turbulently

## Related Forms
- disturb
- perturb
- trouble
- turbid
- turbine
- turbulence

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: turbulent
- Root: turbulentus

## Etymology
From Middle English turbulent, from Middle French turbulent, from Latin turbulentus, from turba (“disorder, tumult, crowd”).

## AI Etymology
Turbulent is from Middle English turbulent, from Middle French turbulent, from Latin turbulentus, from turba (“disorder, tumult, crowd”). The historical line also includes Middle English turbulent, Middle French turbulent, Latin turbulentus. In present-day use, it can mean full of sudden change, conflict, or disorder, or moving violently and unsteadily. Derived formations include gravitoturbulent, gravoturbulent, macroturbulent, microturbulent, nonturbulent, turbulently.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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