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Noun: turbulence  tur-byû-lun(t)s
  1. Unstable flow of a liquid or gas
    "The turbulence in the river made navigation difficult for small boats";
    - turbulency
     
  2. Instability in the atmosphere
    "The aeroplane encountered severe turbulence during the flight"
     
  3. A state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
    "the industrial revolution was a period of great turbulence";
    - upheaval, Sturm und Drang

Derived forms: turbulences

Type of: bad weather, disorder, inclemency, inclementness, physical phenomenon

Encyclopedia: Turbulence