First recorded in 1960–65
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And they would add crucial green space to reduce the heat island effect, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
Dehydration and heat stroke can occur when temperatures rise, and urban heat island effects can also help to trap pollution leading to poor air quality.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2025
A coalition of environmental groups is concerned that the pavement could create a heat island effect that would further stress the tree, which is already living in extreme conditions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2024
These risks are exacerbated by the urban heat island effect — in which buildings and concrete absorb and give off more heat from the sun than trees and vegetation.
From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2024
"And in addition, you'll have this positive impact on the metropolitan-scale heat island effect."
From Science Daily ● Feb. 12, 2024
And artificial turf is disproportionately installed to replace private lawns and public landscaping in economically disadvantaged communities that already face the greatest consequences of the urban heat-island effect, in which hard surfaces raise local temperatures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2024
“Here, like other hardworking immigrants, they performed tireless, invisible labor for the city, sequestering carbon, countering the heat-island effect, and reducing the pollution of storm-water runoff,” Kinney wrote.
From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2024
Gravel or decking beat a big swathe of concrete, which creates run-off issues and adds to the urban heat-island effect by absorbing the sun’s warmth and trapping gases from vehicle exhaust and air-conditioning units.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2022
The main problem driving the so-called "heat-island effect" is tall buildings.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2021
In cities, concrete also adds to the heat-island effect by absorbing the warmth of the sun and trapping gases from car exhausts and air-conditioner units – though it is, at least, better than darker asphalt.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 25, 2019
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.
