Showing results for "weathering"

• present participle of weather.

weathering

American  

[weth-er-ing] / ˈwɛð ər ɪŋ /

noun

1. Architecture. wash.

2. material used as a weather strip.

3. Geology. the various mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose.

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weathering British  

/ ˈwɛðərɪŋ /

noun

1. the mechanical and chemical breakdown of rocks by the action of rain, snow, cold, etc

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weathering Scientific  

/ wĕth′ər-ĭng /

1. Any of the chemical or mechanical processes by which rocks exposed to the weather undergo chemical decomposition and physical disintegration. Although weathering usually occurs at the Earth's surface, it can also occur at significant depths, for example through the percolation of groundwater through fractures in bedrock. It usually results in changes in the color, texture, composition, or hardness of the affected rocks.

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weathering Cultural  

1. The process by which rocks are broken down into small grains and soil. Weathering can happen through rainfall, ice formation, or the action of living things, such as algae and plant roots. It is part of the geological cycle.

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Etymology

Origin of weathering

First recorded in 1655–65; weather + -ing ¹

Explanation

When rocks are gradually worn away by water, salt, wind, plants, and animals, it's called weathering. Many of the world's most breathtaking rock formations are the result of weathering. Weathering is the process of rocks disintegrating due to weather conditions or other biological causes. This includes chemical effects caused by minerals, physical pressure from plants or animals, and the scraping of ice as it freezes and thaws. During weathering, the worn-away pieces of rock stay nearby; if they're swept away by water or wind, that's called erosion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

weathering

“Although new tariff challenges await in September, the August strength suggests the economy was weathering the storm better than expected in the third quarter,” Shelly Kaushik, senior economist at Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Those airlines with healthier balance sheets may have an easier time weathering the difficulties.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

But after weathering through the lockdowns of Covid-19 and struggling with the continuing rising costs of operating, the family said things were "extremely difficult" to sustain.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Volcanoes create new rock, plate tectonics reshape the continents and ocean floors, and weathering gradually breaks down exposed landscapes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

He wavers for a moment like he’s on the deck of a ship weathering a storm.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion