pluvial

[ ploo-vee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy.
2. Geology. occurring through the action of rain.

noun

1. Geology. a rainy period formerly regarded as coeval with a glacial age, but now recognized as episodic and, in the tropics, as characteristic of interglacial ages.

pluvial

/ ˈpluːvɪəl /

adjective

1. of, characterized by, or due to the action of rain; rainy

   pluvial insurance

noun

1. geology of or relating to rainfall or precipitation
2. a climate characterized by persistent heavy rainfall, esp one occurring in unglaciated regions during the Pleistocene epoch

pluvial

/ plo̅o̅′vē-əl /

1. Relating to or caused by rain.

Other Words From

• inter·pluvi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluvial¹

1650–60; < Latin pluviālis, equivalent to pluvi ( a ) rain + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluvial¹

C17: from Latin pluviālis rainy, from pluvia rain

Example Sentences

The pluvial autumn wind came sweeping along between the rows of houses.

From Project Gutenberg

Miquel y Bada mentions a magnificent velvet pluvial in gold and three colours, belonging to a church in Catalua.

From Project Gutenberg

From the Pluvial period to the present the valley has been the scene of frequent volcanic disturbances.

From Project Gutenberg

And this tete-a-tete decorated with flowers; and this pluvial cope in this case.

From Project Gutenberg

During the pluvial periods when hydrosere-loving shrews populated the Great Basin, that region may have been a treeless grassland.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• damp
• moist
• stormy
• wet