monsoon

[ mon-soon ]

noun

1. the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter.
2. (in India and nearby lands) the season during which the southwest monsoon blows, commonly marked by heavy rains; rainy season.
3. any wind that changes directions with the seasons.
4. any persistent wind established between water and adjoining land.

monsoon

/ mɒnˈsuːn /

noun

1. a seasonal wind of S Asia that blows from the southwest in summer, bringing heavy rains, and from the northeast in winter
2. the rainy season when the SW monsoon blows, from about April to October
3. any wind that changes direction with the seasons

monsoon

/ mŏn-so̅o̅n′ /

1. A system of winds that influences the climate of a large area and that reverses direction with the seasons. Monsoons are caused primarily by the much greater annual variation in temperature over large areas of land than over large areas of adjacent ocean water. This variation causes an excess of atmospheric pressure over the continents in the winter, and a deficit in the summer. The disparity causes strong winds to blow between the ocean and the land, bringing heavy seasonal rainfall.
2. In southern Asia, a wind that is part of such a system and that blows from the southwest in the summer and usually brings heavy rains.

monsoon

1. A wind system that affects large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally.

Notes

The Asiatic monsoon brings heavy rains to Southeast Asia in spring and summer.

Derived Forms

• monˈsoonal, adjective

Other Words From

• mon·soonal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monsoon¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from obsolete Dutch monssoen, from Portuguese monção, earlier moução, from Arabic mawsim “season,” noun derivative of wasama “to mark”; mazuma ( def ), Sivan ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of monsoon¹

C16: from obsolete Dutch monssoen, from Portuguese monção, from Arabic mawsim season

Example Sentences

This can occur during hurricanes along the East Coast or monsoons in the Southwest, but climate change makes it possible even during a regular rainstorm.

From Washington Post

In a regional quirk, the aerosols emitted by South Asia—particles from emissions, or stirred-up dust—are thought to have had the opposite effect over the second half of the 20th century, drying out the monsoon and triggering droughts.

From Quartz

The Western Samoan government required villages to build cement schools because their former palm-thatch construction could not withstand the frequent monsoons.

From Nautilus

The delayed monsoons can have an implication on the sowing of the Kharif monsoon crop and thereby crop output.

From Quartz

It’s that time of year again in the US—hurricane and monsoon season is upon us.

From Popular-Science

Monsoon rains sparked widespread flooding that submerged the camp in water.

From The Daily Beast

The monsoon season that year saw six tiger attacks, despite the normal rarity of such incidents in that season.

From The Daily Beast

By Sunday, the shifting winds of a monsoon storm drove the flames toward the town.

From The Daily Beast

The Bangkok metro continued to operate even as a foot of water lapped at the entrances during the 2011 monsoon.

From The Daily Beast

Neither heat nor the threat of monsoon-like rains keeps activists from their placards.

From The Daily Beast

Undoubtedly the best time to try and climb the mountain would be before the monsoon breaks in May or early June.

From Project Gutenberg

Without consulting the meteorologist at Simla it is difficult to accept assertions about the monsoon as ultimate truth.

From Project Gutenberg

Huge breakers, urged on by the southeast monsoon, boil over these rocks from one year's end to the next.

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose this break may be taken as the forerunner of the monsoon on Mount Everest.

From Project Gutenberg

Will the whole of the snow fallen during the monsoon of 1921 have melted before the next monsoon, and if so by what date?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deluge
• drizzle
• flood
• hail
• mist
• precipitation
• rainfall
• rainstorm
• shower
• showers
• sleet
• stream
• torrent