waterspout A tornado-like vortex that occurs over water and is visible because of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour in the low pressure around the core (not because water is drawn upward from the surface). A waterspout may be a tornado that has moved from over the land, or may form over water, not necessarily beneath a mesocyclone cloud.

wa·ter·spout / ˈwôtərˌspout; ˈwä-/ • n. a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.