I.gen. turbonis, Caes. ib.) [1. turbo], that which spins or twirls round (cf. vertex).
I. A whirlwind, hurricane, tornado: ventus circumactus et eundem ambiens locum et se ipse vertigine concitans turbo est. Qui si pugnacior est ac diutius volutatur, inflammatur, et efficit, quem πρηστῆρα Graeci vocant: “hic est igneus turbo,” Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 3: “falsum est faces et trabes turbine exprimi,” id. ib. 7, 5, 1; 2, 22, 2; id. Ep. 109, 18: “procellae, turbines,” Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51; cf.: saevi exsistunt turbines, Pac. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 39, 157 (Trag. Rel. p. 111 Rib.); Enn. ap. Schol. Vat. ad Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 4 (Ann. v. 553 Vahl.): “venti vis rapido percurrens turbine campos,” Lucr. 1, 273; cf. id. 1, 279; 1, 294; 5, 217; Ov. M. 6, 310: “senatus decrevit, ut Minerva, quam turbo dejecerat, restitueretur,” Cic. Fam. 12, 25, 1: “turbo aut subita tempestas,” id. Cael. 32, 79: “pulvis collectus turbine,” Hor. S. 1, 4, 31: “venti rotanti turbine portant,” Lucr. 1, 294: “ita turbine nigro Ferret hiemps,” Verg. G. 1, 320: “venti ruunt et terras turbine perflant,” id. A. 1, 83: “accendi turbine quodam aëris,” Sen. Q. N. 7, 4, 1.—In apposition with ventus: “exoritur ventus turbo,” Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 47: “circumstabant navem turbines venti,” id. Trin. 4, 1, 16.—
B. Trop., whirlwind, storm, etc.: “qui in maximis turbinibus ac fluctibus rei publicae navem gubernassem,” Cic. Pis. 9, 20: “tu, procella patriae, turbo ac tempestas pacis atque otii,” id. Dom. 53, 137: “ego te in medio versantem turbine leti Eripui,” Cat. 64, 149: “cum illi soli essent duo rei publicae turbines,” Cic. Sest. 11, 25: “miserae mentis,” Ov. Am. 2, 9, 28: “miserarum rerum,” id. M. 7, 614: “nescio quo miserae turbine mentis agor,” id. Am. 2, 9, 28: “Gradivi,” i. e. tumult of war, Sil. 11, 101: “virtutem turbine nullo Fortuna excutiet tibi,” Luc. 2, 243: “horum mala, turbo quīs rerum imminet,” Sen. Agam. 196.—
II. Lit., a spinning-top, whipping-top, Verg. A. 7, 378 sq.; Tib. 1, 5, 3.—
B. Transf., of things that have the shape or whirling motion of a top, as a reel, whirl, spindle, etc., Cic. Fat. 18, 42; Varr. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 449; Hor. Epod. 17, 7; Cat. 64, 315; Ov. M. 1, 336; Plin. 2, 10, 7, § 47; 9, 36, 61, § 130; 27, 4, 5, § 14; 36, 13, 19, § 90; 37, 4, 15, § 56.—
III. A whirling motion, a whirl, twirl, twist, rotation, revolution, a round, circle (mostly poet.): “cum caeli turbine ferri,” Lucr. 5, 624: “lunae,” id. 5, 632: “ignium,” id. 6, 640; cf. Verg. A. 3, 573: “teli (contorti),” id. ib. 6, 594; cf. id. ib. 11, 284; Luc. 3, 465; Sil. 4, 542: “saxi,” whirling force, circular hurling, Verg. A. 12, 531: “serpentis,” i. e. the coiling, Sil. 3, 191: “Aegaeus,” whirlpool, vortex, Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 287; so, rapax, Stat Th. 4, 813: “verterit hunc (servum in emancipatione) dominus, momento turbinis exit Marcus Dama,” i. e. of whirling round, Pers. 5, 78: militiae turbine factus eques, i. e. through the round of military gradation or promotion, Ov. Am. 3, 15, 6: “vulgi,” i. e. a throng, crowd, Claud. II. Cons. Stil. 200.