(ˈ)män|sün noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete Dutch monssoen, from Portuguese monção, alteration of moução, from Arabic mawsim time, season
1. : a wind blowing part of the year from one direction alternating with a wind from the opposite direction
2.
a. : a periodic wind in various latitudes in the Indian ocean and southern Asia generally which blows from the southwest from the latter part of April to the middle of October and from the northeast from about the middle of October to April
b. : the season of the southwest monsoon in India and adjacent countries which is a season of heavy rainfall : rainy season
• mon·soon·al -n ə l adjective