# weathering

Pronunciation: US say "WETH-er-ing" /ˈwɛð.əɹ.ɪŋ/; UK say "WETH-uh-ring" /ˈwɛð.əɹ.ɪŋ/

## Noun

1. The mechanical or chemical breakdown of rocks in place, caused by weather and other natural forces.
   - Simple: The slow breaking down of rocks where they sit, caused by rain, wind, ice, or sun.
   - _Chemical weathering dissolves limestone, carving out caves over thousands of years._
   - _Geologists study how weathering shapes desert landscapes into towers and arches._
3. The action of weather on objects left exposed to it, including fading, cracking, and wear.
   - Simple: The way wind, rain, and sun change things left outside over time.
   - _Decades of weathering had stripped the paint from the wooden shutters._
   - _The bronze plaque showed heavy weathering after years on the coast._
4. A slight slope given to a nearly horizontal surface so that it sheds water rather than letting it collect.
   - Simple: A small slope built into a flat surface so rainwater runs off instead of pooling.
   - _The architect specified a weathering on the cornice to protect the brickwork below._
   - _Builders cut a gentle weathering into the stone cap to shed rainfall._

## Verb

2. Present participle and gerund of weather. — present participle and gerund of weather
   - Simple: Present participle of weather. Use this -ing form for an action happening now.
   - _The ship was weathering the storm with its sails reefed tight._
   - _The coastline is slowly weathering into jagged, broken shapes._

## Noun

5. Weather, particularly fair or favorable weather. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Weather, especially good and fair weather.
   - _The captain hoped for fair weathering to carry the fleet safely home._
   - _The travelers gave thanks for the calm weathering that sped their journey._

## Origin

From Middle English "wederyng," equivalent to "weather" plus the suffix "-ing."

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