rain shadow
- a region in the lee of mountains that receives less rainfall than the region windward of the mountains.
Origin of rain shadow
First recorded in 1900–05
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
rain shadow
- the relatively dry area on the leeward side of high ground in the path of rain-bearing winds
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
rain shadow
- An area having relatively little precipitation due to the effect of a topographic barrier, especially a mountain range, that causes the prevailing winds to lose their moisture on the windward side, causing the leeward side to be dry.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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