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chill factor

American  

noun

Meteorology.
  1. wind chill.


chill factor Scientific  
/ chĭl /

Etymology

Origin of chill factor

First recorded in 1960–65; short for windchill factor ( def. )

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.

Ice forms in the shade, adding to the chill factor.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2024

By Friday morning, the temperatures in parts of eastern New Mexico could feel like 20 to 25 degrees below zero, with the wind chill factor, said Brian Guyer, a meteorologist with the Weather Service.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2022

“Minus-15 and minus-55 chill factor — the only time I’ve ever been exposed to that, and I don’t care that if it’s the last time,” Dale said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2017

At what temperature does still air cause the same chill factor as −5ºC air moving at 15 m/s?

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

But it wasn't until the 1970s that people started using the term "feels like temperature" to describe the wind chill factor.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2015