# weather

Pronunciation: US say "WETH-ur" /ˈwɛð.ɚ/; UK say "WETH-uh" /ˈwɛð.ə/

## Noun

1. The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, including temperature, rain, wind, and cloud; also harsh conditions of this kind and the wear they cause.
   - Simple: How hot, cold, wet, windy, or cloudy it is outside. Also bad conditions like storms and the damage they cause.
   - _Forecasters predicted calm weather for the weekend._
   - _The mountain weather changed within minutes from clear skies to fog._
4. A situation or set of circumstances, especially one regarded as favorable or difficult.
   - Simple: A general situation or set of conditions someone is dealing with.
   - _Investors brace for choppy weather whenever interest rates shift._
   - _The startup sailed into fair weather once funding came through._
6. The direction from which the wind blows, and by extension the windward side of a vessel or object.
   - Simple: The way the wind is coming from, or the side facing the wind.
   - _The schooner gained the weather gauge and closed in on her rival._
   - _Sailors kept a sharp eye to weather as the front approached._

## Verb

2. To change in color, texture, or form, or to break down, through long exposure to wind, rain, sun, and air; also, of the elements, to cause rock or other material to change this way.
   - Simple: To become worn, faded, or broken down by wind, rain, and sun over time, or to make something do this.
   - _Granite weathers slowly, while shale crumbles within a few seasons._
   - _These boulders weather along their joints, splitting into smaller blocks._
3. To endure or survive an event or ordeal without suffering serious damage.
   - Simple: To get through a hard event safely, without much harm or damage.
   - _The old freighter weathered three storms on its voyage across the Atlantic._
   - _The small bakery managed to weather the recession without laying off any staff._
7. To sail to windward of an obstacle or point, passing it on the side from which the wind blows.
   - Simple: To sail past something by going on the side the wind comes from.
   - _Tacking sharply, the sloop weathered the reef with little room to spare._
   - _A skilled captain could weather the point even in a stiff breeze._

## Adjective

5. Of a side, edge, or surface: facing toward the direction from which the wind or current flows.
   - Simple: Pointing toward the wind, on the side that the wind hits.
   - _When the wind picked up, the crew leaned out over the weather side to keep the boat from tipping._
   - _Wind and rain had scoured the weather face of the ridge down to bare rock._

## Noun

8. A storm or tempest; a spell of violent atmospheric upheaval. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A storm or violent burst of wind and rain.
9. A light shower or brief fall of rain. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A light fall of rain, a quick and gentle shower.

## Other meanings

- (verb) Of the sky or atmosphere, to bring on rain or stormy conditions.
- (verb) To set a hawk outdoors unhooded in the open air, typically on a perch or block.

## Origin

From Middle English weder, from Old English weder, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root *h₂weh₁- meaning "to blow." It is related to Dutch weer, German Wetter, and Swedish väder, all meaning "weather."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/weather (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).