weather
Americannoun
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the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.
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a strong wind or storm or strong winds and storms collectively.
We've had some real weather this spring.
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a weathercast.
The radio announcer will read the weather right after the commercial.
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Usually weathers. changes or vicissitudes in one's lot or fortunes.
She remained a good friend in all weathers.
verb (used with object)
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to expose to the weather; dry, season, or otherwise affect by exposure to the air or atmosphere.
to weather lumber before marketing it.
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to discolor, disintegrate, or affect injuriously, as by the effects of weather.
These crumbling stones have been weathered by the centuries.
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to bear up against and come safely through (a storm, danger, trouble, etc.).
to weather a severe illness.
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Nautical. (of a ship, mariner, etc.) to pass or sail to the windward of.
to weather a cape.
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Architecture. to cause to slope, so as to shed water.
verb (used without object)
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to undergo change, especially discoloration or disintegration, as the result of exposure to atmospheric conditions.
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to endure or resist exposure to the weather.
a coat that weathers well.
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to go or come safely through a storm, danger, trouble, etc. (usually followed bythrough ).
It was a difficult time for her, but she weathered through beautifully.
idioms
noun
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the day-to-day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific place Compare climate
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(modifier) relating to the forecasting of weather
a weather ship
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a prevailing state or condition
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(of a vessel) to roll and pitch in heavy seas
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(foll by of) to carry out with great difficulty or unnecessarily great effort
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informal
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not in good health
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intoxicated
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adjective
verb
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to expose or be exposed to the action of the weather
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to undergo or cause to undergo changes, such as discoloration, due to the action of the weather
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(intr) to withstand the action of the weather
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to endure (a crisis, danger, etc)
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(tr) to slope (a surface, such as a roof, sill, etc) so as to throw rainwater clear
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(tr) to sail to the windward of
to weather a point
Usage
What’s the difference between weather and climate? Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions—the temperature and precipitation on a certain day, for example. Climate refers to the average atmospheric conditions that prevail in a given region over a long period of time—whether a place is generally cold and wet or hot and dry, for example. It can also refer to the region or area that has a particular climate.Weather can also be a verb, meaning to expose something to harsh conditions (such as by placing it outside, in the weather), often in order to change it in some way, as in We need to weather this leather to soften it. It can also mean to endure a storm or, more metaphorically, a negative or dangerous situation, as in We will simply have to weather the recession. As nouns, both weather and climate can be used figuratively to refer to the general (nonliteral) atmosphere of a place or situation, as in phrases like political climate and fair-weather friend.In scientific terms, both weather and climate are about atmospheric conditions like temperature, precipitation, and other factors. But they differ in scale. Weather involves the atmospheric conditions and changes we experience in the short term, on a daily basis. Rain today, sun tomorrow, and snow next month—that’s weather. Climate involves average atmospheric conditions in a particular place over a long period of time (this is often understood to mean 30 years or more). Is the place where you live consistently rainy and cool? Is it always 72 degrees and sunny? That’s climate.So, when you’re making small talk about whether it’s rainy or sunny that day, you’re discussing the weather. If you’re complaining that it’s always way too hot where you live, all year round, you’re discussing your regional climate.Changes to climate—even an average temperature rise of a few degrees—can alter the weather patterns that we’re accustomed to. More extreme and more frequent storms, floods, and droughts are some examples of weather events that are being fueled by a warming of the climate.Here’s an example of weather and climate used correctly in a sentence.Example: When you live in an extremely dry climate, a rare day of rainy weather is thrilling.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between weather and climate.
Other Word Forms
- weatherability noun
- weatherer noun
Etymology
Origin of weather
First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English weder; cognate with Dutch weder, German Wetter, Old Norse vethr
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After learning how to identify the unusual short-impulsive events in the seismic records, the researchers compared them with weather and rainfall data.
From Science Daily
Next arrived atmospheric rivers—intense weather systems that broke levees, flooded towns and killed at least one in Western Washington.
The figure is a record for a December day in recent years, and is believed to be due to a backlog of people wanting to get across to Kent because of recent bad weather.
From BBC
Heavy rare earths are formed over millions of years, as rainfall weathers igneous rocks, breaking them down and leaving elements concentrated near the surface.
From Barron's
If vehicles could be tracked in real time “you could almost treat it like a weather event,” she said.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
