monsoon
[ mon-soon ]
/ mɒnˈsun /
noun
the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter.
(in India and nearby lands) the season during which the southwest monsoon blows, commonly marked by heavy rains; rainy season.
any wind that changes directions with the seasons.
any persistent wind established between water and adjoining land.
Origin of monsoon
1575–85; < Dutch
monssoen (now obsolete) < Portuguese
monção, earlier
moução < Arabic
mawsim season
OTHER WORDS FROM monsoon
mon·soon·al, adjectiveWords nearby monsoon
mons.,
monsarrat,
monseigneur,
monsieur,
monsignor,
monsoon,
monsoon low,
monster,
monster truck,
monstera,
monstering
Example sentences from the Web for monsoon
British Dictionary definitions for monsoon
monsoon
/ (mɒnˈsuːn) /
noun
a seasonal wind of S Asia that blows from the southwest in summer, bringing heavy rains, and from the northeast in winter
the rainy season when the SW monsoon blows, from about April to October
any wind that changes direction with the seasons
Derived forms of monsoon
monsoonal, adjectiveWord Origin for monsoon
C16: from obsolete Dutch
monssoen, from Portuguese
monção, from Arabic
mawsim season
Scientific definitions for monsoon
monsoon
[ mŏn-sōōn′ ]
A system of winds that influences the climate of a large area and that reverses direction with the seasons. Monsoons are caused primarily by the much greater annual variation in temperature over large areas of land than over large areas of adjacent ocean water. This variation causes an excess of atmospheric pressure over the continents in the winter, and a deficit in the summer. The disparity causes strong winds to blow between the ocean and the land, bringing heavy seasonal rainfall.
In southern Asia, a wind that is part of such a system and that blows from the southwest in the summer and usually brings heavy rains.
Cultural definitions for monsoon
monsoon
A wind system that affects large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally.
notes for monsoon
The Asiatic monsoon brings heavy rains to
Southeast Asia in spring and summer.