water cycle

British  

noun

1. Also called: hydrologic cycle. the circulation of the earth's water, in which water evaporates from the sea into the atmosphere, where it condenses and falls as rain or snow, returning to the sea by rivers or returning to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration

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water cycle Scientific  

1. See hydrologic cycle

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water cycle

The WMO stressed the importance of good data to map the developments in the water cycle, warning that significants gaps remained in hard-hit areas.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

However, as rainfall moves slowly through the water cycle, aquifers and groundwater stores have shown resilience, external throughout this current drought.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Some climate models already account for isotopic processes, but no single model can perfectly capture the complexity of Earth's water cycle.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 15, 2026

These problems are compounded by climate change, which is upending the water cycle and bringing more severe droughts and floods.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026

To the thousands upon thousands of trained hydrologists, meteorologists and agronomists of the federal agencies of agriculture, interior and commerce fell the task of manipulating and guiding the delicate balance of the world's water cycle.

From The Thirst Quenchers by Rick Raphael

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