global warming

[ gloh-buhl wawrm-ing ]

/ ˈgloʊ bəl ˈwɔrm ɪŋ /

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noun

an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.

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Origin of global warming

First recorded in 1975–80

Words nearby global warming

global product, global rule, global search, global tectonics, global village, global warming, globate, globe, globe amaranth, globe artichoke, globefish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use global warming in a sentence

Many of these “nature is healing, we are the virus” factoids were eventually debunked, then memed, then shown to be a blip of unearned optimism as global warming continued apace.
What Gretel Ehrlich Gets Wrong About Climate Change|Erin Berger|February 8, 2021|Outside Online
The topic was seen as a “moral hazard” because it was thought that the promise of a technical fix for global warming could distract from efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.
Elon Musk’s $100 Million Carbon Capture Push|Edd Gent|February 1, 2021|Singularity Hub
That waste, a greenhouse gas, contributes to global warming.
A new catalyst turns greenhouse gas into jet fuel|Maria Temming|January 27, 2021|Science News For Students
In 2015, 195 nations pledged to reduce their fossil fuel emissions to limit global warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius by 2100.
How much will Africa capitalize on cheap renewable energy as its power grid grows?|Carolyn Gramling|January 25, 2021|Science News

Climate models show that vast amounts of carbon removal will be necessary to prevent really dangerous levels of global warming, given how much we’ve emitted and how slowly we’re moving away from fossil fuels.
What Musk’s $100 million carbon capture prize could mean|James Temple|January 22, 2021|MIT Technology Review
At some point during his busy schedule, Israel found the time to write a book, titled The Global War on Morris.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We face a lot of problems at this moment in our national and global history.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Instead, local life is defined by cultural products that are more national or more global—think of the Sunday New York Times.
Will Texas Stay Texan?|David Fontana|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Puar further pointed out, this notion of a global gay identity is easily manipulated.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
World peace, religious tolerance, and an end to global poverty, hunger, and disease.
Santa Fails One More Time|P. J. O’Rourke|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beds, in those days, were warmed with copper warming pans, and nightcaps adorned the slumbering heads of both sexes.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The warming machines will take a very extensive run, and I believe will pay exceedingly well.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
But now that he stood there with his back to the fire, warming his hands, he made himself more clear.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Just a few nights ago, we sat smoking in the evening, warming our hearts at the great hearth-stone.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
In 1838 he attended the house-warming of Heloise Brisetout in rue Chauchat.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe

British Dictionary definitions for global warming

global warming

noun

an increase in the average temperature worldwide believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect

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

Scientific definitions for global warming

global warming

An increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase great enough to cause changes in the global climate. The Earth has experienced numerous episodes of global warming through its history, and currently appears to be undergoing such warming. The present warming is generally attributed to an increase in the greenhouse effect , brought about by increased levels of greenhouse gases, largely due to the effects of human industry and agriculture. Expected long-term effects of current global warming are rising sea levels, flooding, melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, more frequent and stronger El Niños and La Niñas, drought, heat waves, and forest fires. See more at greenhouse effect.

Cultural definitions for global warming

global warming

The term attached to the notion that the Earth's temperature is increasing due to the greenhouse effect.

notes for global warming

Whether global warming is actually happening is a subject of scientific debate.