flatten#2

アメリカ中部で発生したトルネードに関する記事です。この中で気になった単語は"flatten"です。『Wisdom第三版（三省堂）』によると，「倒壊させる，破壊する」などという意味がありました。"flat"の語源は「傾きがなく水平な」です。以前ブログで取り上げた"level"と同じような意味があることに気が付きました。アメリカでは自然災害が増加している印象を受けます。（Ume）

States of Emergency: Tornadoes Rip Through Miss., Ala.

At least three tornados flattened homes and businesses, flipped trucks over on highways and injured an unknown number of people in Mississippi and Alabama on Monday as a massive, dangerous storm system passed over several states in the South, also threatening to unleash severe thunderstorms, damaging hail and flash floods.

People in the path of the huge system were on edge as the National Weather Service posted tornado watches and warnings around Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Forecasters said the system is the latest onslaught of severe weather that triggered deadly tornadoes in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Iowa on Sunday, killing at least 18 people.

The storm was so huge it was visible from space, photographed by weather satellites that showed tumultuous clouds arcing across much of the South.

flattened - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から
level - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から

参考：国連の気象変動に関する記事
sitting duck #2 - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から