Showing Results for "weathering"

See Also:

• 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

Weathering may have ultimately concentrated heat-producing elements like uranium, thorium and potassium in the shallow crust, allowing the deeper crust to cool and harden.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2024

Weathering can shorten a person’s life by decades, and even five or 10 years is a big loss.

From Scientific American • Jun. 6, 2023

Weathering uprisings and the COVID-19 pandemic, current owner Jeanette Bolden-Pickens told The Times in 2020 that retaining a “taste of tradition” is what’s helped them remain a Central Avenue staple.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Weathering doesn’t just hurt people—it hurts the science that could help them.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 10, 2022

Weathering of ferruginous limestone may produce residual iron and manganese ores in clay soils.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Related Words

• depletion
• depreciation
• erosion