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weather

Pronunciation: /ˈwɛðə/
Translate weather | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of weather

noun

[mass noun]
  • the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.:if the weather’s good we can go for a walk
  • cold, wet, and unpleasant or unpredictable atmospheric conditions:stone walls provide shelter from wind and weather
  • [as modifier] denoting the side from which the wind is blowing, especially on board a ship; windward:the weather side of the yachtContrasted with lee.

verb

[with object]
  • 1wear away or change the appearance or texture of (something) by long exposure to the atmosphere: [with object and complement]:his skin was weathered almost black by his long outdoor life
  • [no object] (of rock or other material) be worn away or altered by long exposure to the atmosphere:the ice sheet preserves specimens that would weather away more quickly in other regions
  • 2(of a ship) come safely through (a storm): the sturdy boat had weathered the storm well
  • withstand (a difficulty or danger):this year has tested industry’s ability to weather recession
  • Sailing get to the windward of (a cape).
  • 3make (boards or tiles) overlap downwards to keep out rain.
  • (in building) slope or bevel (a surface) to throw off rain.
  • 4 (usually as noun weathering) Falconry allow (a hawk) to spend a period perched in the open air.

Phrases

in all weathers

British in every kind of weather, both good and bad: she’s out exercising her dog in all weathers

keep a weather eye on

observe very carefully, especially for changes or developments: regular bank statements let you keep a weather eye on your finances

make heavy weather of

informal have unnecessary difficulty in dealing with (a task or problem): why do we make such heavy weather of learning languages?
[from the nautical phrase make good or bad weather of it, referring to a ship in a storm]

under the weather

informal slightly unwell or in low spirits: she was sufficiently under the weather to have to pull out of the championship he’s been under the weather since he’s been on his own

Origin:

Old English weder, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch weer and German Wetter, probably also to the noun wind1

Do not confuse weather with wether or whether. Weather means 'conditions in the atmosphere such as temperature, rain, etc.' (if the weather’s good we’ll go for a walk); a wether is a castrated male sheep; whether means 'if', or is used to show doubt or a choice (she wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or outraged).

weather in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of weather in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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