Santa Ana

[ san-tuh an-uh Spanish sahn-tah ah-nah ]

noun

1. a city in southwestern California.
2. a city in northwestern El Salvador.
3. Meteorology. (in southern California) a weather condition in which strong, hot, dust-bearing winds descend to the Pacific coast around Los Angeles from inland desert regions.
4. Santa Anna ( def ).

Santa Ana

noun

1. ˈsanta ˈana a city in NW El Salvador: the second largest city in the country; coffee-processing industry. Pop: 172 000 (2005 est)
2. ˈsæntə ˈænə a city in SW California: commercial and processing centre of a rich agricultural region. Pop: 342 510 (2003 est)

Santa Ana

/ săn′təăn′ə /

1. A strong, dry, hot wind that blows from the desert regions of southern California toward the Pacific coast, usually in winter. The Santa Ana wind occurs when a region of high pressure forms over the Great Basin (the high plateau east of the Sierra mountains and west of the Rocky mountains). The clockwise rotation of air around this high-pressure region forces air down from the plateau. As it descends, the air warms up and picks up speed. Because the wind is hot and dry, it contributes to the hazardous fire conditions of southern California.

Example Sentences

Cortes said he had political power in mind after the Santa Ana police union began to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each election cycle to put their favored candidates on the City Council.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a weak El Niño earlier this year, and this wash-up coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week.

From Los Angeles Times

That fire was fueled by dry conditions and intense Santa Ana winds.

From Los Angeles Times

Most began in the fall, when Santa Ana winds can become particularly dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

For years, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department employee was living large, spending lavishly on Santa Ana dinners, West Hollywood bars and a nightclub in Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times