pluvial

American  

[ploo-vee-uhl] / ˈplu vi əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy.

2. Geology. occurring through the action of rain.

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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 British  

/ ˈpluːvɪəl /

adjective

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

   pluvial insurance

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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 Scientific  

/ plo̅o̅′vē-əl /

1. Relating to or caused by rain.

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Other Word Forms

• interpluvial adjective

Etymology

Origin of pluvial

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

Example Sentences

There has also been pluvial - or surface water - flooding, which is a direct result of intense or prolonged rainfall that overwhelms drainage systems.

From BBC

“They don’t take into account small creeks, tributaries and heavy pluvial events,” Porter said.

From Scientific American

This so-called Carnian pluvial episode coincides with some massive evolutionary shifts.

From Nature

What we are seeing now is more flooding from pluvial events from intense summer storms.

From BBC

The climate which in the north was at times almost Arctic, is now pluvial, and except on the summits of the mountains no snow is to be seen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• damp
• moist
• stormy
• wet