climate
//ˈklaɪ.mɪt//
Forms
- Plural
- climates
Definitions
1.The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).
- And the effects from climate change are already extreme.
2.The context in general of a particular political, moral, etc., situation.
- Industries that require a lot of fossil fuels are unlikely to be popular in the current political climate.
- This isn't the time for militant unionism. If I were at ScotRail, in the current climate I'd trade a pay freeze [sic: pay rise?] for job security.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1487
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English climat
From Old French climat
From Latin clima
From Ancient Greek κλίμα (klíma, “latitude”, literally “inclination”).