weathering

noun

weath·​er·​ing
ˈwet͟h-riŋ,
ˈwe-t͟hə- How to pronounce weathering (audio)
: the action of the weather conditions in altering the color, texture, composition, or form of exposed objects
specifically : the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of earth materials at or near the earth's surface

Examples of weathering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Many granite blocks were left at the pyramid’s base, never to be placed, and millennia of weathering and vandalism reduced the pyramid’s casing to just seven granite layers, as Reuters’ Patrick Werr reports. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 Although the lake has since dried up, weathering, erosion and human activity have exposed sediments of the former lake bed. Robert Patalano, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 The fertilizer in the slow-release formulations is released by water penetration, weathering or microbial action. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024 In populations subject to the most severe weathering, the increasing trend of having children at older ages increases the risk of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Arline Geronimus, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2024 The answer lies in the way climate adjusts silicate weathering to balance the supply of CO2 into the atmosphere and the demand for it by silicate weathering, Caves Rugenstein told me. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2023 As such, its fossils are often more intricate compared to those found on the surface that have undergone weathering. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Maternal mortality is a barometer of weathering’s contribution to excess deaths, as the physical stress of pregnancy is harder to withstand for a weathered body, while other manifestations of weathering often become life-threatening only after the reproductive ages. Arline Geronimus, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2024 Bradley was involved in the early work on solar weathering. Melissa Gaskill, Popular Mechanics, 12 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'weathering.' 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

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of weathering was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near weathering

Cite this Entry

“Weathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weathering. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

weathering

noun
weath·​er·​ing
ˈwet͟h-(ə-)riŋ
: the action of the forces of nature that changes the color, texture, composition, or form of exposed objects
especially : the physical and chemical breakdown of earth materials at or near the earth's surface
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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