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Glite Dictionary
wind scale

wind scale

4.6
A number scale from zero to twelve used worldwide to show how strong the wind is
  • noun
  • /wɪnd skeɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escala del viento
  • A hurricane's strength is determined using the wind scale, which ranges from 0 to 12 to indicate wind force.

Examples

  • Meteorologists use the wind scale to classify the strength of different storms.

  • Sailors often consult the wind scale before setting out to sea.

  • The weather report mentioned that the storm had reached level 10 on the wind scale.

  • The wind scale measures the intensity of storms.

  • Do you know how the wind scale works?

  • The storm is classified as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.

  • Meteorologists use the Saffir-Simpson wind scale to categorize hurricanes by their intensity.

Synonyms

Beaufort scale
vswind scale
  • Specialized
7.0

A scale that measures wind strength from calm to hurricane

is the identical meteorological system but presented as a general descriptive term

Surface Forms

wind scale singular
wind scales plural

Morphology

wind + scale

The compound 'wind scale' is directly interpretable as a 'scale for measuring wind' since 'wind' names the phenomenon and 'scale' denotes a measurement system; a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer this function. This compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common (e.g., Spanish 'escala del viento'), so the meaning is transparent rather than idiomatic or metaphorical.

Etymology

Wind scale comes from the simple picture of a numbered scale that measures the force of the wind. One popular story says sailors and people who watched the weather used numbers from 0 to 12 to show how wind moved flags or ships, so today wind scale means a numbered system for wind 'strength'.