Definition

The act of a tree being uprooted or knocked over by strong winds.

Example

After the storm, there was a lot of windthrow in the forest, with many trees lying on the ground.

Conversation

Did you see the damage from the storm last night?

Yeah, there was so much windthrow in the park.

I hope they clear it up quickly; it looked dangerous.

I agree, especially with all those uprooted trees.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Windthrow is formed from "wind" (from Old English "wind", meaning air in motion) and "throw" (from Old English "þrawan", meaning to twist or turn). The word describes trees that have been uprooted or fallen due to the force of the wind, essentially being thrown down by it.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'wind' causing trees to be 'thrown' down — that's why windthrow refers to trees that have fallen due to strong winds.

Visually Confused Words