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
In cities, the trend is compounded by the fact that the built environment absorbs and retains more heat than the rural area around it, a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2025
Ruese also suggested that local leaders improve urban infrastructure so that it reduces heat, and in particular the urban heat island effect.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 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
But it does not begin to abate the larger heat-island effect created by the six-lane roadway it stands next to.
From Slate ● May 22, 2023
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.
