weather

Universal Words noun, verb noun [U] 1 the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as the temperature, and if there is wind, rain, sun, etc: hot / cold / wet / fine / summer / windy weather * Did you have good weather on your trip? * I'm not going out in this weather! * There's going to be a change in the weather. * if the weather holds / breaks (= if the good weather continues / changes) * The weather is very changeable at the moment. * 'Are you going to the beach tomorrow?' 'It depends on the weather.' * We'll have the party outside, weather permitting (= if it doesn't rain). * a weather map / chart * a weather report * The tent protected us from the worst of the weather. 2 (the weather) (informal) a report of what the weather will be like, that is on the radio or television, or in the newspapers: to listen to the weather IDIOMS in all weathers (BrE) in all kinds of weather, good and bad: She goes out jogging in all weathers. keep a weather eye on sb/sth to watch sb/sth carefully in case you need to take action: Keep a weather eye on your competitors. under the weather (informal) if you are or feel under the weather, you feel slightly ill/sick and not as well as usual moreatBRASS, HEAVY verb 1 to change, or make sth change, colour or shape because of the effect of the sun, rain or wind: [V] This brick weathers to a warm pinkish-brown colour. * [VN] Her face was weathered by the sun. 2 [VN] to come safely through a difficult period or experience: The company just managed to weather the recession. * She refuses to resign, intending to weather the storm (= wait until the situation improves again). ______________________________ VOCABULARYBUILDING types of weather Rain Drizzle is fine light rain. A shower is a short period of rain. A downpour or a cloudburst is a heavy fall of rain that often starts suddenly. When it is raining very hard you can say that it is pouring. In informal BrE you can also say that it is bucketing down or chucking it down. You can also say: The heavens opened. Storms A cyclone and a typhoon are types of violent tropical storms with very strong winds. A hurricane has very strong winds and is usually at sea. A monsoon is a period of very heavy rain in particular countries, or the wind that brings this rain. A squall is a sudden strong, violent wind, usually in a rain or snow storm. A tornado (or twister informal) has very strong winds which move in a circle, often with a long narrow cloud. A whirlwind moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage. A blizzard is a snow storm with very strong winds. Tempest is used mainly in literary language to describe a violent storm. ______________________________