heat island

[ heet ahy-luhnd ]

noun

1. an urban area having a higher average temperature than its rural surroundings owing to the greater absorption, retention, and generation of heat by its buildings, pavements, and human activities.

heat-island

noun

1. meteorol the mass of air over a large city, characteristically having a slightly higher average temperature than that of the surrounding air

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat island¹

First recorded in 1960–65