pluvial

[ ploo-vee-uh l ]
/ ˈplu vi əl /

adjective

of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy.
Geology. occurring through the action of rain.

noun

Geology. a rainy period formerly regarded as coeval with a glacial age, but now recognized as episodic and, in the tropics, as characteristic of interglacial ages.

Origin of pluvial

1650–60; < Latin pluviālis, equivalent to pluvi(a) rain + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM pluvial

in·ter·plu·vi·al, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for pluvial

British Dictionary definitions for pluvial

pluvial
/ (ˈpluːvɪəl) /

adjective

of, characterized by, or due to the action of rain; rainy pluvial insurance

noun

geology of or relating to rainfall or precipitation
a climate characterized by persistent heavy rainfall, esp one occurring in unglaciated regions during the Pleistocene epoch

Word Origin for pluvial

C17: from Latin pluviālis rainy, from pluvia rain

Scientific definitions for pluvial

pluvial
[ plōōvē-əl ]

Relating to or caused by rain.