ground swell
1
6.9
- noun
- /ˈgraʊnd swɛl/
:
oleaje
- Let's hop on board one now with Bob Casey... and Phil Edwards in the blue water off Diamond Head... and see what it looks like from on board charging at a ground swell at 20 miles an hour.
Examples
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After the storm passed, a massive ground swell formed, making the ocean waves larger and more powerful.
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These cats are a lot of fun in the harbor, but they're a real thrill on the open ocean riding ground swells.
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The surfers eagerly awaited the perfect ground swell to hit the beach, knowing it would create ideal waves.
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As the boat rocked gently in the harbor, I could feel the subtle rise and fall of the ground swell beneath us.
Synonyms
759
1.0
A moving ridge of water or a traveling motion such as sound and light
46
5.7
A long smooth wave on the open sea that moves steadily
7
7.4
A large rolling wave on the sea
Large rolling waves that make the sea rise and fall
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The head noun 'swell' already denotes a long, smooth sea wave, so learners who know that word will grasp the basic idea of a wave; the modifier 'ground' suggests something to do with the earth or depth/origin below the surface, giving a partial cue. However, the specific sense that this is a broad, deep swell caused by distant storms or seismic activity is not directly predictable from 'ground' alone and likely requires prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Ground swell may come from sailors who felt a long, deep swell that seemed to rise from the ground under their ship and move the whole boat. So, the name helps you picture 'a broad, deep wave' that can travel far and rock ships or surfers.