عصر

اـِعْصَارٌ ذ A whirlwind of dust [or sand ], resembling a pillar; a wind that raises dust [or sand ] between the sky and the earth, and revolves, resembling a pillar; called also by the Arabs a زَوْبَعَة; of the masc. gender; (Msb;) a wind that raises the dust [or sand ], and rises towards the sky, as though it were a pillar; (S, O;) a wind that blows from the ground, (K, TA,) and raises the dust [or sand ], and rises (TA) like a pillar towards the sky; (K, TA;) called by the people a زَوْبَعَة: (TA:) unless it blow in this manner, with vehemence, it is not thus called: (Zj, TA:) [see عَمُودٌ:] a wind that rises into the sky: (AZ:) or a wind that raises the clouds, (S, O, K,) with thunder and lightning: (S, O:) or in which is fire: (K:) mentioned in the Kur ii. 268: (S, O:) or in which is ↓ عِصَار, which signifies vehement dust, (K,) or this latter word signifies dust raised into the air, by the wind, in the form of a pillar (مَا عَصَرَتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ مِنَ التُّرَابِ فِى الهَوَاآءِ): (TA:) [see also عَصَرٌ:] pl. أَعَاصِيرُ, (Msb, TA,) and أَعَاصِرُ [occurring in poetry]. (Ham p. 678.) ― -b2- اـِنْ كُنْتَ رِيحًا فَقَدْ لَاقَيْتَ اـِعْصَارًا [ If thou be a wind, thou hast met with a whirlwind of dust like a pillar ] is a prov. of the Arabs, (O, TA,) relating to a man in whom is somewhat of power and who meets with one superior to him, (O,) or to a man who meets his adversary with courage. (TA.) ― -b3- And one says, وَعْدُهُ اـِعْصَارٌ [ His promising is unprofitable like a whirlwind of dust ]. (A, TA.)