I. win ‧ ter 1 S2 W2 /ˈwɪntə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ winter , ↑ midwinter ; verb : ↑ winter ; adjective : ↑ wintry ]
[ Language: Old English ]
the season after autumn and before spring, when the weather is coldest ⇨ summer :
Soon it will be winter.
in (the) winter
It usually snows here in the winter.
this/last/next winter
Fuel supplies could be seriously disrupted this winter.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ cold
That winter was particularly cold.
▪ severe/hard/harsh (=very cold)
In a hard winter, many birds starve.
▪ mild (=not very cold)
Winters here are generally mild.
▪ long (=lasting a long time)
The long winter finally came to an end.
■ winter + NOUN
▪ the winter months
During the winter months the town is often cut off.
▪ winter coat/shoes (=designed for winter)
I need a new winter coat.
■ phrases
▪ in the depths of winter (=in the middle of the winter)
Even in the depths of winter, the harbour is never completely frozen.
▪ the onset of winter
She dreaded the onset of winter.
II. winter 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] formal
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ winter , ↑ midwinter ; verb : ↑ winter ; adjective : ↑ wintry ]
to spend the winter somewhere ⇨ summer :
Last year, over 11,000 Canadians wintered in Arizona.