weather

[ weth -er ]

/ ˈwɛð ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR weather ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.

a strong wind or storm or strong winds and storms collectively: We've had some real weather this spring.

a weathercast: The radio announcer will read the weather right after the commercial.

Usually weathers. changes or vicissitudes in one's lot or fortunes: She remained a good friend in all weathers.

verb (used with object)

to expose to the weather; dry, season, or otherwise affect by exposure to the air or atmosphere: to weather lumber before marketing it.

to discolor, disintegrate, or affect injuriously, as by the effects of weather: These crumbling stones have been weathered by the centuries.

to bear up against and come safely through (a storm, danger, trouble, etc.): to weather a severe illness.

Nautical. (of a ship, mariner, etc.) to pass or sail to the windward of: to weather a cape.

Architecture. to cause to slope, so as to shed water.

verb (used without object)

to undergo change, especially discoloration or disintegration, as the result of exposure to atmospheric conditions.

to endure or resist exposure to the weather: a coat that weathers well.

to go or come safely through a storm, danger, trouble, etc. (usually followed by through): It was a difficult time for her, but she weathered through beautifully.

Nearby words

Idioms

under the weather, Informal.

somewhat indisposed; ailing; ill.
suffering from a hangover.
more or less drunk: Many fatal accidents are caused by drivers who are under the weather.

Origin of weather

before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English weder; cognate with Dutch weder, German Wetter, Old Norse vethr

Related formsweath·er·er, noun

Can be confusedweather whether whither wither (see synonym study at wither)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for weather

Did the airline file a flight plan that took account of the weather en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
These days weather should never cause a commercial airliner to crash.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Some thunderstorms were in the area, according to weather reports.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The weather on the route of AirAsia Flight 8501 was not unusual for the region and the season.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Nor should we ever assume that weather alone, however extreme, should be fatal to a commercial flight.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The work was hard, and the weather cold; but these did not frighten me.
Ned Myers|James Fenimore Cooper
The deep stillness, or the unintermitted hollow blowing of the wind (according to the weather) are equally mournful.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol 58, No. 357, July 1845|Various
It recurred every Sunday whenever the weather was fine and warm.
Frederic Lord Leighton |Ernest Rhys
But his companion was not thinking of the state of the weather.
The Hills of Refuge|Will N. Harben
The weather was warm and the command marched slowly, feeling its way as it went.
History of the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during its term of service|John R. Kinnear

British Dictionary definitions for weather

weather

/ (ˈwɛðə) /

noun

the day-to-day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific placeCompare climate (def. 1)
(modifier) relating to the forecasting of weathera weather ship

a prevailing state or condition

make heavy weather

(of a vessel) to roll and pitch in heavy seas
(foll by of) to carry out with great difficulty or unnecessarily great effort

under the weather informal

not in good health
intoxicated

adjective

(prenominal) on or at the side or part towards the wind; windwardthe weather anchor Compare lee (def. 4)

verb

to expose or be exposed to the action of the weather

to undergo or cause to undergo changes, such as discoloration, due to the action of the weather

(intr) to withstand the action of the weather

(when intr, foll by through) to endure (a crisis, danger, etc)

(tr) to slope (a surface, such as a roof, sill, etc) so as to throw rainwater clear

(tr) to sail to the windward ofto weather a point

Derived Formsweatherability, nounweatherer, noun

Word Origin for weather

Old English weder; related to Old Saxon wedar, Old High German wetar, Old Norse vethr

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for weather (1 of 2)

weather

Old English weder, from Proto-Germanic *wedran (cf. Old Saxon wedar, Old Norse veðr, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch weder, Old High German wetar, German Wetter "storm, wind, weather"), from PIE *we-dhro-, "weather," from root *we- "to blow" (see wind (n.)). Spelling with -th- first appeared 15c., though pronunciation may be much older.

Weather-beaten is from 1520s. Under the weather "indisposed" is from 1827. Greek had words for "good weather" (aithria, eudia) and words for "storm" and "winter," but no generic word for "weather" until kairos (literally "time") began to be used as such in Byzantine times. Latin tempestas "weather" (see tempest) also originally meant "time;" and words for "time" also came to mean weather in Irish (aimsir), Serbo-Croatian (vrijeme), Polish (czas), etc.

Word Origin and History for weather (1 of 2)

weather

"come through safely," 1650s, from weather (n.). Sense of "wear away by exposure" is from 1757. Related: Weathered; weathering.

Science definitions for weather

weather

[ wĕð′ər ]

The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Weather is described in terms of variable conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind velocity, precipitation, and barometric pressure. Weather on Earth occurs primarily in the troposphere, or lower atmosphere, and is driven by energy from the Sun and the rotation of the Earth. The average weather conditions of a region over time are used to define a region's climate.

Culture definitions for weather

weather

The daily conditions of the atmosphere in terms of temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, and moisture.

Idioms and Phrases with weather

weather

In addition to the idiom beginning with weather

weather the storm

also see:

fair-weather friend
heavy going (weather)
keep a weather eye out
under the weather

weather

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

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Origin of weather

Examples from the Web for weather

British Dictionary definitions for weather

weather

noun

adjective

verb

Word Origin for weather

Word Origin and History for weather (1 of 2)

weather

Word Origin and History for weather (1 of 2)

weather

Science definitions for weather

weather

Culture definitions for weather

weather

Idioms and Phrases with weather

weather