A waterspout is a tornado-like column of rotating, funnel-shaped wind over a body of water, such as a lake or the ocean. Some key features of waterspouts:

They are typically smaller and less intense than land-based tornadoes, but can still be dangerous.

They form when warm, moist air near the water’s surface rises rapidly, creating a spinning vortex.

Waterspouts can be classified as either “fair weather” waterspouts or “tornadic” waterspouts.

Fair weather waterspouts form from atmospheric instability and are mostly relatively weak and short-lived.

Tornadic waterspouts form the same way as land-based tornadoes and can be much stronger and more dangerous.

Waterspouts can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas and structures.

They are common in tropical and subtropical regions, but can occur in many parts of the world where the right atmospheric conditions exist.

So in summary, a waterspout is a tornado-like weather phenomenon that occurs over water and can range from a relatively weak fair weather event to a powerful tornadic storm.