climate

American  

[klahy-mit] / ˈklaɪ mɪt /

noun

1. the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

2. a region or area characterized by a given climate.

   to move to a warm climate.

3. the prevailing attitudes, standards, or environmental conditions of a group, period, or place.

   a climate of political unrest.

   Synonyms:

   temper, tone, spirit, atmosphere, mood

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climate British  

/ ˈklaɪmɪt, klaɪˈmætɪk /

noun

1. the long-term prevalent weather conditions of an area, determined by latitude, position relative to oceans or continents, altitude, etc

2. an area having a particular kind of climate

3. a prevailing trend or current of feeling

   the political climate

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climate Scientific  

/ klī′mĭt /

1. The general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind. On Earth, climate is most affected by latitude, the tilt of the Earth's axis, the movements of the Earth's wind belts, the difference in temperatures of land and sea, and topography. Human activity, especially relating to actions relating to the depletion of the ozone layer, is also an important factor.

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climate Cultural  

1. A region's usual weather patterns. The climate at any point on Earth is determined by things such as the general movement of the atmosphere, the proximity of the oceans, and the altitude of the location.

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Usage

Climatic is sometimes wrongly used where climactic is meant. Climatic is properly used to talk about things relating to climate; climactic is used to describe something which forms a climax

Discover More

The climate also is affected by the sun, by changes in the orbit of the Earth, by plate tectonics, and by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which may lead to a greenhouse effect.

Other Word Forms

• climatic adjective
• climatically adverb
• subclimate noun

Etymology

Origin of climate

First recorded in 1350–1400, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605 climate for def. 2; Middle English climat, from Latin clīmat- (stem of clīma ), from Greek klīmat- , stem of klī́ma “slope,” from klī́(nein) “to bend, lean, slope” + -ma, noun suffix

Example Sentences

Greenland often appears in global headlines because of topics such as mining, geopolitics, and climate change.

From Science Daily

Georgia Dent, CEO of the trust, said the research project could help find solutions to challenges such as adapting to climate change and improving water quality.

From BBC

Evidence from monitored sites across Britain now shows how they filter pollutants, trap sediments, and make river systems more resilient to climate extremes.

From BBC

"As with all around the world, the climate is changing," says Frédéric Bonnevie, our guide and a mountain patroller for 32 years.

From BBC

Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, pollutants linked to smog, respiratory disease, and climate impacts.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• atmosphere
• environment
• feeling
• mood
• surroundings
• trend