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anticyclone

anticyclone

1 8.1
A large area of high air pressure that brings clear weather and winds spinning outward
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈsaɪkloʊn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anticiclón
  • An anticyclone often brings clear skies and calm weather conditions to the region.
  • anticyclone and cyclone

Examples

  • One of them, an anticyclone larger than Earth called the Great Red Spot, has been around for at least 350 years.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Some of those losing runs without wind or sun can be very long, especially in winter anticyclones.

    Blog text (16)
  • The anticyclone that develops over the South Pole has been displaced and slow to establish itself over the past five seasons.

    Blog text (31)
  • This weather chart for August 13, 1987, shows a fine-weather anticyclone (high pressure) between Australia and New Zealand.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Evidence from sixteenth-century documents suggests that the period 1500-1550 was warmer than the previous century, a condition probably caused by the high frequency of anticyclones affecting the zones near 45 degrees N and 50 degrees N.

    Academic text (1991)
  • During autumn, a strong anticyclone settled over the city, leading to unseasonably warm temperatures.

  • Meteorologists noted that the anticyclone caused the temperature to rise significantly, creating ideal conditions for outdoor activities.

Antonyms

42 3.7

A very strong storm with winds that spin and bring heavy rain and damage

How High

anticyclone
  • Specialized
1 8.1
high
  • Specialized
42 6.4
standard atmosphere
  • Specialized
1 6.1
barometric pressure
  • Specialized
7 4.0
low
  • Specialized
9 5.5
vacuum
  • Specialized
77 4.2

Surface Forms

anticyclone singular
anticyclones plural

Morphology

anticyclone = cyclone (semi-transparent) = anti + cyclone

The word is built clearly from 'anti-' plus 'cyclone', but the meteorological meaning is technical rather than fully predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Anticyclone comes from anti- meaning 'opposite' and cyclone meaning 'circle' or 'whirl', the same root as the common word cycle. So think 'opposite circle' — an anticyclone has winds that spin the opposite way to a cyclone and a high-pressure center that often brings clear weather.