A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone. A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized storm system that forms over tropical or subtropical waters, characterized by high wind speeds and rain. Depending on where it is, a tropical cyclone is called either a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone. The only difference between a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone is its location; they are all names for the same kind of storm. "Tropical cyclone" is an umbrella term that encompasses all of these storms. (I.e., all hurricanes are tropical cyclones; not all tropical cyclones are hurricanes.)
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, or the east Pacific Ocean. Basically, the only land affected by hurricanes are the Americas (which includes the Caribbean).
A typhoon occurs along the northwest Pacific. Typhoons usually end up on the east coast of Asia, over the Philippines, Indochina and east India.
Tropical cyclones that occur southwest Pacific and in the Indian Ocean are usually just called cyclones. These end up on the east coast of Africa, over the Philippines or Australia.
If a tropical cyclone originates in the east Pacific it will be called a hurricane; if it drifts over the International Dateline the name will be changed to cyclone. Historically, there have even been tropical storms that change names two or three times.
