What is the difference between tropical cyclone and a cyclone?

Question

i have researched heaps on this topic yet no books nor websites have actually told me what the difference of these are...are they the same thing?

Answer 1

A cyclone in general is an area of low pressure. Its also used as the term for hurricanes that form in the Indian Ocean. Tropical cyclones are very powerful low pressure systems that form over warm, large bodies of waters. Cyclones, as I stated before, are any type of low pressure systems. There is indeed a difference, depending on what context you use it in.

Answer 2

A cyclone is ANY type of rotating area of low pressure, be it a hurricane, tornado, tropical or non tropical low, etc.

A tropical cyclone is a particular type of cyclone.  It is a low pressure area that is driven by the energy released through condensation of water vapor, and has no frontal systems associated with it.  That is why they form in the tropical regions.