weather

[ weth-er ]

noun

1. the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.
2. a strong wind or storm or strong winds and storms collectively:

   We've had some real weather this spring.

3. a weathercast:

   The radio announcer will read the weather right after the commercial.

4. Usually weathers. changes or vicissitudes in one's lot or fortunes:

   She remained a good friend in all weathers.

verb (used with object)

1. to expose to the weather; dry, season, or otherwise affect by exposure to the air or atmosphere:

   to weather lumber before marketing it.

2. to discolor, disintegrate, or affect injuriously, as by the effects of weather:

   These crumbling stones have been weathered by the centuries.

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

   to weather a severe illness.

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

   to weather a cape.

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

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo change, especially discoloration or disintegration, as the result of exposure to atmospheric conditions.
2. to endure or resist exposure to the weather:

   a coat that weathers well.

3. 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.

weather

/ ˈwɛðə /

noun

1. 1. the day-to-day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific place Compare climate
   2. modifier relating to the forecasting of weather

      a weather ship

2. a prevailing state or condition
3. make heavy weather
   1. (of a vessel) to roll and pitch in heavy seas
   2. foll by of to carry out with great difficulty or unnecessarily great effort
4. under the weather informal.
   1. not in good health
   2. intoxicated

adjective

1. prenominal on or at the side or part towards the wind; windward Compare lee

   the weather anchor

verb

1. to expose or be exposed to the action of the weather
2. to undergo or cause to undergo changes, such as discoloration, due to the action of the weather
3. intr to withstand the action of the weather
4. whenintr, foll by through to endure (a crisis, danger, etc)
5. tr to slope (a surface, such as a roof, sill, etc) so as to throw rainwater clear
6. tr to sail to the windward of

   to weather a point

weather

/ wĕth′ər /

1. 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.

weather

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

Derived Forms

• ˌweatheraˈbility, noun
• ˈweatherer, noun

Other Words From

• weather·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of weather¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of weather¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under the weather, Informal.
   1. somewhat indisposed; ailing; ill.
   2. suffering from a hangover.
   3. more or less drunk:

      Many fatal accidents are caused by drivers who are under the weather.

More idioms and phrases containing weather

In addition to the idiom beginning with weather , also see fair-weather friend ; heavy going (weather) ; keep a weather eye out ; under the weather .

Example Sentences

Among those cities, the reactor would perform the worst in Minneapolis because of the colder, drier weather in the winter.

From Science Daily

Transport for Wales said 13% of its services had been disrupted due to severe weather.

From BBC

Hurricanes are complex weather phenomena, and how strong one will be or where it will make landfall is difficult to estimate.

From Science Daily

Wind gusts could bring power outages, downed trees and high surf along the coastline, the US weather agency said, which issued a "high risk excessive rainfall outlook" for northwest California.

From BBC

The cold weather payment is a government benefit top-up to help with fuel bills, external.

From BBC

Related Words

• get through
• overcome
• resist
• ride out
• suffer
• surmount
• survive
• withstand

Weather Vs. Climate

What’s the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions—the temperature and precipitation on a certain day, for example. Climate refers to the average atmospheric conditions that prevail in a given region over a long period of time—whether a place is generally cold and wet or hot and dry, for example. It can also refer to the region or area that has a particular climate.

Weather can also be a verb, meaning to expose something to harsh conditions (such as by placing it outside, in the weather), often in order to change it in some way, as in We need to weather this leather to soften it. It can also mean to endure a storm or, more metaphorically, a negative or dangerous situation, as in We will simply have to weather the recession. As nouns, both weather and climate can be used figuratively to refer to the general (nonliteral) atmosphere of a place or situation, as in phrases like political climate and fair-weather friend.

In scientific terms, both weather and climate are about atmospheric conditions like temperature, precipitation, and other factors. But they differ in scale. Weather involves the atmospheric conditions and changes we experience in the short term, on a daily basis. Rain today, sun tomorrow, and snow next month—that’s weather. Climate involves average atmospheric conditions in a particular place over a long period of time (this is often understood to mean 30 years or more). Is the place where you live consistently rainy and cool? Is it always 72 degrees and sunny? That’s climate.

So, when you’re making small talk about whether it’s rainy or sunny that day, you’re discussing the weather. If you’re complaining that it’s always way too hot where you live, all year round, you’re discussing your regional climate.

Changes to climate—even an average temperature rise of a few degrees—can alter the weather patterns that we’re accustomed to. More extreme and more frequent storms, floods, and droughts are some examples of weather events that are being fueled by a warming of the climate.

Here’s an example of weather and climate used correctly in a sentence.

Example: When you live in an extremely dry climate, a rare day of rainy weather is thrilling.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between weather and climate.

Quiz yourself on weather vs. climate!

Should weather or climate be used in the following sentence?

This week’s hot _____ has brought people out to the pool in droves.