air mass

noun

: a body of air extending hundreds or thousands of miles horizontally and sometimes as high as the stratosphere and maintaining as it travels nearly uniform conditions of temperature and humidity at any given level

Examples of air mass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another worry is that lack of ice cover leaves the lakes more prone to lake-effect snow, which requires warm open water and a cold, dry air mass. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Confidence: Medium-High Tomorrow night: Precipitation is likely to arrive a little between 9 p.m. and midnight, and could start as rain but should quickly cool the air mass and change over to snow. David Streit, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 The good news is that by Wednesday the arctic air mass will moderate. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 Forecast in detail The coldest air mass of the season arrives this afternoon and sticks around through much of the week and possibly into next weekend. Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024 The cold air mass responsible for producing the snow is the coldest of the season so far. Kathryn Prociv, NBC News, 28 Nov. 2023 Confidence: High Tomorrow night: The air mass continues to trend warmer. Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023 The coldest air mass so far this winter is expected at the start of next week. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2024 The air mass flows down the slopes into the valleys, causing a cooling effect in the glaciers' lower areas and neighboring ecosystems. Devika Rao, theweek, 6 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air mass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air mass was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near air mass

Cite this Entry

“Air mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20mass. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

air mass

noun
: a body of air extending hundreds or thousands of miles sideways and sometimes as high as the stratosphere and having nearly the same conditions of temperature and humidity at any single level

More from Merriam-Webster on air mass

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