INDEX:
1. weather
2. connected with the weather
3. information about the weather
4. good weather
5. bad weather
6. weather that changes a lot
7. hot weather
8. cold weather
9. rain
10. snow and ice
11. cloudy
12. windy
13. storm
14. happening or used in any kind of weather
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ HOT
↑ COLD
↑ WET
↑ DRY
↑ ENVIRONMENT
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1. weather
▷ weather /ˈweðəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
use this to talk about whether it is hot or cold outside or whether it is raining, snowing, windy etc :
▪ Weather patterns have been changing as a result of global warming.
the weather
▪ What was the weather like on your vacation?
▪ We want to have a picnic on Saturday, but it depends on the weather.
hot/warm/wet etc weather
▪ a period of warm sunny weather
▪ I don’t like going to work on my bike in wet weather.
weather permitting
if the weather is suitable
▪ We’ll play softball in the park tomorrow, weather permitting.
▷ it /ɪt/ [pronoun] spoken
use this to talk about what the weather is like :
▪ What’s it like in Spain at this time of year? Is it really hot?
it’s cold/sunny/cloudy etc
▪ The weather forecast says it’s going to be cloudy tomorrow.
▪ It was cool and sunny when we left this morning.
▷ climate /ˈklaɪmɪt, ˈklaɪmət/ [countable noun]
the usual weather conditions in a particular country or area :
▪ Queensland has a warm tropical climate.
▪ These flowers will not grow in a cold climate.
climate of
▪ The climate of southern Florida attracts thousands of tourists each winter.
climate change
changes in average temperature, weather conditions etc
▪ The recent floods are said to be caused by climate change in the northern hemisphere.
▷ conditions /kənˈdɪʃ ə nz/ [plural noun]
the weather at a particular time, especially when considering how this will affect an event or activity that has been planned, such as a journey or a race :
▪ Conditions are perfect for today’s boat race.
▪ If the conditions are really bad we’ll have to postpone the trip and stay at home.
weather conditions
▪ We can expect a return to normal weather conditions this weekend.
freezing/icy/stormy etc conditions
▪ Freezing conditions are making the roads extremely hazardous and drivers are warned to take extra care.
2. connected with the weather
▷ climatic /klaɪˈmætɪk/ [adjective only before noun] especially written
connected with the weather in a large area over a long period of time :
▪ toxic gases that threaten the earth’s climatic balance
▪ The types of rice grown in a country depend on climatic conditions.
▪ Climatic changes are caused by the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
▷ meteorological /ˌmiːtiərəˈlɒdʒɪk ə lǁ-ˈlɑː-/ [adjective only before noun]
connected with the scientific study of the weather :
▪ Meteorological reports are fed into a computer, which helps scientists make accurate predictions about the weather.
▪ His meteorological observations resulted in a theory of how tropical storms arise in the Gulf of Mexico.
▷ atmospheric /ˌætməsˈferɪk◂/ [adjective only before noun]
connected with the air that surrounds the earth and how it affects the weather :
▪ Snow crystals form when atmospheric conditions turn water vapour into ice.
▪ The cylinder swelled and contracted with the changing atmospheric pressure.
3. information about the weather
▷ weather forecast /ˈweðəʳ ˌfɔːʳkɑːstǁ-kæst/ [countable noun]
a description of what the weather will probably be like in the near future, for example on the radio, television, or in newspapers :
▪ The weather forecast predicted blizzards for Scotland.
▪ ‘Do you think it’s going to rain?’ ‘Well it said so on the weather forecast.’
▷ weather report /ˈweðəʳ rɪˌpɔːʳt/ [countable noun]
a description of the weather conditions now and in the near future, especially one on the radio or television :
▪ There are weather reports every hour to keep you up to date with driving conditions in your area.
▪ And now over to the London Weather Centre for the latest weather report.
▷ the weather /ðə ˈweðəʳ/ [singular noun] informal
a short radio, television, or newspaper report saying what the weather is likely to be in the near future :
▪ The news from your area will follow the weather in five minutes time.
▷ the outlook /ði ˈaʊtlʊk/ [singular noun]
what the weather will probably be like for the next few days, especially according to information provided by the radio, television, or newspapers :
▪ I’m afraid the outlook isn’t very good -- they say it’s going to rain tomorrow.
the outlook for tomorrow/the weekend etc
▪ The outlook for the weekend is for continued sunny weather.
4. good weather
▷ good weather /gʊd ˈweðəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
weather that is sunny and warm :
get/have good weather
▪ We go to Greece every Easter, and we usually get good weather.
▪ We had good weather apart from one day of heavy rain.
a spell/run of good weather
▪ You must be ready to take advantage of any spell of good weather.
in good weather
▪ Sometimes, in good weather, he walked to work across the fields.
▷ beautiful/gorgeous/glorious /ˈbjuːtɪf ə l, ˈbjuːtəf ə l, ˈgɔːʳdʒəs, ˈglɔːriəs/ [adjective] especially spoken
very sunny and warm :
▪ It was a glorious day with blue skies.
▪ We had three weeks of absolutely gorgeous weather.
it is beautiful/gorgeous/glorious
▪ What’s happened to the weather? It was beautiful last week.
▷ nice spoken also lovely especially British, spoken /naɪs, ˈlʌvli/ [adjective]
pleasantly warm and sunny :
▪ Morning, Bill. Nice weather, isn’t it?
it’s a nice day/it’s a lovely morning etc
▪ It’s a lovely day - why don’t we go for a walk?
▷ fine /faɪn/ [adjective] especially British
if the weather is fine, it is not raining and the sky is clear :
▪ Next week will be fine but a little cooler.
▪ a fine spring evening
▪ It can take several days of fine weather for the grass to dry out.
▷ dry /draɪ/ [adjective]
if the weather is dry, it does not rain :
▪ The dry weather will continue for several days
▪ Southern areas should stay dry until the early evening.
the dry season
the time of year when there is little or no rain
▪ During the dry season, many of the swamps turn to hard-baked mud.
▷ sunny /ˈsʌni/ [adjective]
if the weather is sunny, the sun is shining :
▪ a lovely sunny afternoon
▪ It’s going to be sunny all day.
sunny spells/intervals
especially British short periods of sunny weather
▪ The weather will remain dry with sunny spells.
▷ sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/ [uncountable noun]
warm bright light from the sun :
▪ We sat on the patio enjoying the autumn sunshine.
▪ Northern regions will start dry with some sunshine.
▷ in the sun /ɪn ðə ˈsʌn/ [adverb]
where the sun is shining down :
▪ I get a rash every time I go in the sun.
▪ Put the plant on a window sill in the sun.
lie/laze/bask etc in the sun
▪ We spent all day lazing around in the sun.
5. bad weather
▷ bad weather /bæd ˈweðəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
when it is raining, snowing, or very cold :
▪ The game was cancelled because of bad weather.
a spell/run of bad weather
▪ Once this spell of bad weather is over, we can start work on the garden.
in bad weather
▪ At least 20 people died when the aircraft crashed in bad weather.
▷ awful/terrible/horrible /ˈɔːf ə l, ˈterə̇b ə l, ˈhɒrə̇b ə lǁˈhɔː-/ [adjective] especially spoken
very unpleasant, cold, wet etc :
▪ Awful weather, isn’t it?
▪ ‘What’s it like outside?’ ‘Terrible.’
it is awful/terrible/horrible
▪ It’s been absolutely horrible all day.
6. weather that changes a lot
▷ unsettled /ʌnˈsetld/ [adjective]
if the weather is unsettled, it keeps changing and it often rains :
▪ More unsettled weather is forecast for the weekend.
continue unsettled
British used in weather forecasts
▪ Tomorrow will continue unsettled, with showers in most areas.
▷ changeable /ˈtʃeɪndʒəb ə l/ [adjective] especially British
likely to change suddenly :
▪ The British weather is very changeable.
▪ The changeable weather that November brings can lead to foggy conditions.
7. hot weather
▷ hot /hɒtǁhɑːt/ [adjective]
▪ We had three weeks of very hot weather.
▪ It was the hottest summer this century.
it is hot
▪ Isn’t it hot today?
▷ boiling/scorching /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ, ˈskɔːʳtʃɪŋ/ [adjective] especially spoken
extremely hot :
it is boiling/scorching
▪ It’s boiling out here! Let’s go inside and get a cool drink.
boiling hot/scorching hot
▪ It was a boiling hot day, and the kids were out playing in the pool.
▷ warm /wɔːʳm/ [adjective]
pleasantly hot, but not too hot :
▪ I’m looking forward to some warmer weather.
nice and warm
▪ It was nice and warm in the sunshine.
▷ mild /maɪld/ [adjective]
mild winter weather is pleasant because it is not as cold as it usually is :
▪ It seems quite mild for February.
▪ Some plants will survive outside during a mild winter.
▷ humid /ˈhjuːmɪd, ˈhjuːməd/ [adjective]
if the weather is humid, the air is hot and wet in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable :
▪ Tokyo is very humid in summer.
▪ It was a hot, humid day, and the only sound was the buzzing of insects.
8. cold weather
▷ cold /kəʊld/ [adjective]
▪ I’d hate to live somewhere where it’s always cold.
▪ The car is difficult to start, especially on cold winter mornings.
▪ It’s so cold. I wish I was back home in Morocco.
the cold [singular noun]
cold weather outside :
▪ Come in out of the cold.
▷ cool /kuːl/ [adjective]
pleasantly cold, especially compared to the heat of the sun :
▪ It gets much cooler in the evenings.
▪ We stopped at a cool, grassy area, under the shade of the trees.
the cool of [noun phrase]
▪ He liked to take a stroll in the cool of the evening.
▷ chilly /ˈtʃɪli/ [adjective]
a little cold, in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable :
▪ It was getting chilly outside, so we went back into the house.
▪ Despite the chilly autumn afternoon, she was wearing a thin cotton dress.
▷ freezing /ˈfriːzɪŋ/ [adjective] especially spoken
extremely cold :
▪ Supporters queued for tickets all night in freezing conditions.
it is freezing
▪ Can’t we go inside? It’s freezing out here.
freezing cold
▪ a freezing cold day in January
9. rain
▷ rain /reɪn/ [uncountable noun]
water that falls from the sky in small drops :
the rain
▪ The rain was beating against the window.
in the rain
▪ I like walking in the rain
heavy/torrential rain
a lot of rain
▪ The roads are flooded after a period of exceptionally heavy rain.
▪ The coast has been battered by torrential rain all week.
light rain
a little rain
▪ Some light rain is likely in the Boston area.
rain falls
comes down from the sky
▪ Four inches of rain have fallen in four days.
acid rain
rain that contains harmful chemicals from industry
▪ When acid rain falls, it affects the pH balance of the soil.
▷ rain /reɪn/ [intransitive verb]
if it rains, water falls from the sky in the form of small drops :
it rains
▪ It rained all night, and half the day after.
▪ Take an umbrella in case it rains.
▷ it’s raining /ɪts ˈreɪnɪŋ/ spoken
use this to say that rain is falling now :
▪ Look, it’s raining again.
▪ Is it still raining?
it’s raining hard/heavily
raining a lot
▪ It had been raining heavily and the ground was very soft.
▷ it’s pouring /ɪts ˈpɔːrɪŋ/ spoken
use this to say that it is raining very hard :
▪ As soon as I got outside it started pouring.
it’s pouring with rain
British
▪ It was pouring with rain and she had forgotten her umbrella.
▷ it’s drizzling /ɪts ˈdrɪzlɪŋ/ spoken
use this to say that it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain :
▪ I think I’ll walk to work - it’s only drizzling.
▷ it’s sprinkling /ɪts ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/ American spoken
use this to say that it is raining a little, usually when it will not last long :
▪ ‘Is it raining out?’ ‘It’s just sprinkling.’
sprinkle [countable noun]
a short light rain: :
▪ There were a few sprinkles this afternoon, but the sun was shining through it all.
▷ wet/rainy /wet, ˈreɪni/ [adjective]
if the weather is wet or rainy, it rains a lot :
▪ It’s been wet all week.
▪ You should bring a waterproof jacket and strong boots in case of wet weather.
▪ a rainy weekend in November
▷ shower /ˈʃaʊəʳ/ [countable noun]
a short period of rain, especially light rain :
▪ It was just a shower, so we didn’t get too wet
heavy showers
when a lot of rain falls for short periods
▪ Heavy showers are forecast for the weekend.
light showers
when a small amount of rain falls during short periods
▪ The weather will be cloudy with light showers in places.
▷ the wet /ðə ˈwet/ [noun phrase] spoken
wet weather outdoors :
▪ Come on in out of the wet.
▷ the rainy season/the Monsoon /ðə ˈreɪni ˌsiːz ə n, ðə mɒnˈsuːnǁ-mɑːn-/ [singular noun]
a time of the year when it rains a lot in hot countries :
▪ The seeds must be planted in time for the rainy season.
▪ At this time of year, before the Monsoon, the river is at its lowest.
monsoon rains
▪ During the monsoon rains, torrents of water spill down the mountains.
10. snow and ice
▷ snow /snəʊ/ [uncountable noun]
soft white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky in cold weather :
▪ The tops of the mountains were still covered in snow.
▪ Tony and I trudged home through the deep snow.
▪ When climbing in snow and ice, it is essential to use the correct gear.
snow falls
▪ Some snow is expected to fall in the Rockies tonight.
snow storm
▪ She disappeared without trace in a heavy snow storm.
virgin snow
snow on the ground that looks clean and white because no-one has stepped on it, driven on it etc
▪ There was a single line of footprints in the virgin snow.
▷ snow /snəʊ/ [intransitive verb]
if it snows, soft white pieces of frozen water fall from the sky when the weather is cold :
it snows
▪ It snowed continually for three weeks.
▷ it’s snowing /ɪts ˈsnəʊɪŋ/ spoken
use this to say that it is snowing now :
▪ It was snowing when he left the house.
▷ hail/hail stones /heɪl, ˈheɪl stəʊnz/ [uncountable noun]
frozen raindrops that fall as small balls of ice :
▪ There were frequent showers of rain and hail.
▪ Even in England, half-inch diameter hail stones are not unusual.
▷ sleet /sliːt/ [uncountable noun]
a mixture of snow and rain :
▪ We couldn’t see anything because of the sleet and snow.
▷ frost /frɒstǁfrɔːst/ [uncountable noun]
ice that looks white and powdery and covers things when the temperature is very cold :
▪ The grass and trees were white with frost.
▪ Frost covered all the windows.
▷ icy /ˈaɪsi/ [adjective]
covered in ice and very slippery :
▪ Be careful - the roads are icy this morning.
▪ Despite the icy ground, he was urging his horse on faster and faster.
11. cloudy
▷ cloudy /ˈklaʊdi/ [adjective]
if the weather is cloudy, there are a lot of clouds in the sky :
▪ You can still get sunburnt on a cloudy day.
▷ dull /dʌl/ [adjective]
if the weather is dull, it is cloudy and there is no sunshine :
▪ It will be dry but dull this morning, with the possibility of showers later in the day.
▷ grey also gray American /greɪ/ [adjective] especially written
cloudy and not at all bright :
▪ It was a grey winter morning.
▷ overcast /ˌəʊvəʳˈkɑːst◂ǁ-ˈkæst◂/ [adjective]
if the sky is overcast, it is very cloudy and dark, and there will probably be rain :
▪ The sky was overcast, and a light rain began to fall.
▷ cloud /klaʊd/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a white or grey mass in the sky that rain falls from :
▪ There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.
thick/dense cloud
▪ Dense cloud prevented the rescue helicopter from taking off.
▷ fog /fɒgǁfɑːg, fɔːg/ [uncountable noun]
thick cloudy air near the ground that is very difficult to see through :
the fog
▪ I could just make out a dim figure coming towards me in the fog.
patch of fog
▪ Watch out for patches of fog in low-lying areas.
thick/dense fog
▪ Dense fog is making driving conditions difficult on many roads.
the fog lifts/clears
it goes away
▪ The fog has almost cleared - our plane will be able to take off soon
foggy [adjective]
▪ a foggy November evening
▷ mist /mɪst/ [singular/uncountable noun]
wet light cloud near the ground, which is difficult to see through clearly :
▪ A light mist lay in the valley.
▪ The mist along the river banks had gone by mid-morning.
shrouded/veiled in mist
be covered in mist
▪ From Primrose Hill, London looked like a ruined city shrouded in mist.
misty [adjective]
▪ It may be misty in the east in the morning.
12. windy
▷ windy /ˈwɪndi/ [adjective]
if the weather is windy, there is a lot of wind :
▪ It was a bright windy day in October.
▪ The windy conditions made it difficult to put the tent up.
▷ wind /wɪnd/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a moving current of air near the ground :
▪ We walked home through the wind and the rain.
the wind blows
▪ A bitter wind was blowing from the East
in the wind
▪ The flags fluttered gently in the wind.
strong/high wind
▪ Strong winds caused damage to many buildings.
gust of wind
when the wind suddenly blows strongly
▪ A sudden gust of wind blew the paper out of his hand.
▷ breeze /briːz/ [countable noun]
a gentle pleasant wind :
▪ A cool breeze blew in off the sea.
slight/gentle breeze
▪ A gentle breeze ruffled her hair.
in the breeze
▪ Her black hair was blowing in the breeze as she waved goodbye to me.
▷ gale /geɪl/ [countable noun]
a very strong wind :
▪ The fence was blown down in the gale last night.
a howling gale
a very strong gale
▪ A howling gale and torrential rain lashed the windows.
13. storm
▷ storm /stɔːʳm/ [countable noun]
a period of very bad weather, when there is a lot of rain, wind, and sometimes thunder and lightning :
▪ The Spanish ships were wrecked in the storm.
a severe storm
▪ There had not been such severe storms in southern England for hundreds of years.
storm cloud
▪ The storm clouds were gathering over the sea.
stormy [adjective]
▪ stormy weather
▪ The sky was starting to look stormy.
▷ thunderstorm /ˈθʌndəʳstɔːʳm/ [countable noun]
a storm where there is a lot of thunder and lightning :
▪ There was a spectacular thunderstorm that night.
▷ thunder /ˈθʌndəʳ/ [uncountable noun]
the loud crashing noise that you hear in a storm :
thunder rumbles/crashes
▪ They could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
clap of thunder/thunder clap
one sudden noise of thunder
▪ There was a thunder clap followed instantly by lightning.
thunder and lightning
▪ The thunder and lightning seemed to have moved away, but the rain continued to pour.
▷ lightning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ [uncountable noun]
a bright flash of light in the sky during a storm :
flash of lightning
▪ A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.
thunder and lightning
▪ There was a great summer storm, with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.
▷ blizzard /ˈblɪzəʳd/ [countable noun]
a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds :
▪ Eliot had to drive home in the blizzard.
▷ hurricane/typhoon /ˈhʌrɪkən, ˈhʌrəkənǁˈhɜːrə̇keɪn, ˌtaɪˈfuːn◂/ [countable noun]
a severe storm with very strong winds that causes a lot of damage. Hurricanes happen in the western Atlantic Ocean. Typhoons happen in the western Pacific Ocean. :
▪ The hurricane devastated Florida and killed at least 40 people.
▪ The typhoon brought 30 foot waves crashing down on to the sea walls.
▷ tornado /tɔːʳˈneɪdəʊ/ [countable noun]
a small but very powerful twisting mass of air that causes a lot of damage. Tornadoes are most common in the central area of the US :
▪ A tornado destroyed twelve homes in Ashport, Tennessee yesterday.
14. happening or used in any kind of weather
▷ rain or shine /ˌreɪn ɔːʳ ˈʃaɪn/ [adverb]
if something happens rain or shine, it always happens or it will definitely happen whether the weather is good or bad :
▪ My husband plays golf every weekend, rain or shine.
come rain or shine
▪ Organizers say the concert in Central Park will go ahead come rain or shine.
▷ in all weathers /ɪn ˌɔːl ˈweðəʳz/ [adverb] British
if someone does something in all weathers, they do it in all kinds of weather, even when the weather is very unpleasant :
▪ There are homeless people sleeping on the streets of London in all weathers.
▪ She loves gardening -- she’s out in her garden in all weathers.
▷ all-weather /ˈɔːl weðəʳ/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about a sports ground or sports equipment which can be used in any weather conditions :
▪ The team now have their own all-weather stadium, and matches are rarely cancelled.
▪ an all-weather jacket