pluvial

[ ploo-vee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy.
2. Geology. occurring through the action of rain.

noun

1. Geology. a rainy period formerly regarded as coeval with a glacial age, but now recognized as episodic and, in the tropics, as characteristic of interglacial ages.

pluvial

/ ˈpluːvɪəl /

adjective

1. of, characterized by, or due to the action of rain; rainy

   pluvial insurance

noun

1. geology of or relating to rainfall or precipitation
2. a climate characterized by persistent heavy rainfall, esp one occurring in unglaciated regions during the Pleistocene epoch

pluvial

/ plo̅o̅′vē-əl /

1. Relating to or caused by rain.

Other Words From

• inter·pluvi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluvial¹

1650–60; < Latin pluviālis, equivalent to pluvi ( a ) rain + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pluvial¹

C17: from Latin pluviālis rainy, from pluvia rain

Example Sentences

Averaged out at the global scale, the team found that 15.46% of all meteorological droughts were succeeded by a pluvial the following season.

From Science Daily

The flash flooding—experts call it pluvial flooding—that hit Zhengzhou, in contrast, showed how quickly torrential downpours can turn deadly in a densely packed modern city.

From Science Magazine

“They don’t take into account small creeks, tributaries and heavy pluvial events,” Porter said.

From Scientific American

After years in obscurity, the Carnian pluvial is becoming a major research focus.

From Nature

If these vast eruptions happened at the same time as the Carnian pluvial episode, they could have released enough carbon dioxide to warm the globe.

From Nature

Related Words

• damp
• moist
• stormy
• wet