definitions

mountain wave

|

noun

the wavelike effect, characterized by severe updrafts and downdrafts, that occurs when rapidly flowing air encounters the steep front of a mountain range.

RELATED CONTENT

Why Are We Calling Everything A “Wave”?Why have so many waves found their way into our cultural lexicon in recent years? In this article, the first in the column Mincing Metaphors, we unpack this oceanic metaphor to better understand what it means and why it’s proving so useful right now.
READ MORE
9 Words To Help You Navigate The Ski SlopesRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Nearby words

mountain state, mountain system, mountain time, mountain view, mountain viscacha, mountain wave, mountain whitefish, mountain wind, mountainboard, mountaineer, mountaineering
Also called lee wave.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lee wave