stratosphere

[ strat-uh-sfeer ]

noun

1. the region of the upper atmosphere extending upward from the tropopause to about 30 miles (50 km) above the earth, characterized by little vertical change in temperature.
2. (formerly) all of the earth's atmosphere lying outside the troposphere.
3. any great height or degree, as the highest point of a graded scale.

stratosphere

/ ˌstrætəˈsfɛrɪk; ˈstrætəˌsfɪə /

noun

1. the atmospheric layer lying between the troposphere and the mesosphere, in which temperature generally increases with height

stratosphere

/ străt′ə-sfîr′ /

1. The region of the Earth's atmosphere extending from the tropopause to about 50 km (31 mi) above the Earth's surface. The stratosphere is characterized by the presence of ozone gas (in the ozone layer ) and by temperatures which rise slightly with altitude, due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.
2. See also exosphereSee illustration at atmosphere

stratosphere

1. The region of the atmosphere of the Earth above the troposphere . The stratosphere begins at an altitude of seven to ten miles and extends to approximately thirty miles.

Derived Forms

• stratospheric, adjective

Other Words From

• strat·o·spher·ic [strat-, uh, -, sfer, -ik, -, sfeer, -], strato·spheri·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratosphere¹

First recorded in 1905–10; strat(um) + -o- + sphere

Example Sentences

The successful relaunch of Trump’s political quest has again rocketed him into the stratosphere of power.

From Salon

Suddenly, Jackson’s career was kicked into the stratosphere and Jones was regarded as the high priest of pop music.

From Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump, whose economic plan is to gut Social Security and slap a 20% sales tax on all imported goods, plans to send inflation into the stratosphere.

From Salon

Entering Game 3 on Tuesday, the bar to do so had reached the stratosphere.

From Los Angeles Times

The industry’s rocketing number of private and public launches deposit kerosene, carbon and sulfur into the upper atmosphere, where these substances remain longer than they do in the stratosphere.

From Salon

Related Words

• atmosphere
• breeze
• wind