catabatic wind

9.3

A strong wind that blows when cold, heavy air flows down from high ground like a mountain or plateau

noun
/ˌkætəˈbætɪk wɪnd/

Specialized

: viento catabático

The Antarctic coast experiences fierce catabatic wind that can last for days.

Examples

The catabatic wind swept down the mountain.
Strong catabatic wind swept down the mountainside, chilling the village below.
Pilots must be cautious when flying near valleys prone to sudden catabatic wind.
In winter, catabatic winds can be very strong.
The catabatic wind rushed down the mountainside, chilling everything in its path.
During the night, the catabatic wind swept down from the plateau, bringing a sharp drop in temperature.
As dawn broke, the catabatic wind descended from the icy peaks, creating a chill in the valley below.

Synonyms

katabatic wind

vscatabatic wind

Specialized

9.6

A cold wind that moves down a mountain slope

is the same wind concept but uses a different traditional spelling

Surface Forms

catabatic wind singular

catabatic winds plural

Morphology

catabatic + wind

The adjective 'catabatic' describes a descending (cold, dense) air flow and 'wind' denotes the atmospheric movement, so their combination transparently denotes a wind that flows downward from higher elevations. Although the word is technical and rare, the meaning is fully compositional and would be clear to a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Catabatic wind comes from Greek parts cata- and -batic, which mean 'down' and 'to go'. It paints a simple image of cold, heavy air flowing down from a mountain or high ground, so the term means a wind that moves downward.