anticyclone

noun

an·​ti·​cy·​clone ˌan-ti-ˈsī-ˌklōn How to pronounce anticyclone (audio)
1
: a system of winds that rotates about a center of high atmospheric pressure clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern, that usually advances at 20 to 30 miles (about 30 to 50 kilometers) per hour, and that usually has a diameter of 1500 to 2500 miles (2400 to 4000 kilometers)
2
anticyclonic adjective

Examples of anticyclone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The closest comparison on Earth to an anticyclone is an ocean eddy, a swirl of water cut off from the normal ocean current with currents that move fast around a center while the center moves slowly through the ocean. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024 The Great Red Spot, or GRS, is an anticyclone, or a large circulation of winds in Jupiter’s atmosphere that rotates around a central area of high pressure along the planet’s southern midlatitude cloud belt. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024 The second formation mechanism is that two or more anticyclones could have merged to form a bigger one. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2024 Heat waves typically begin with a high-pressure system (also known as an anticyclone), where atmospheric pressure above an area builds up. Umair Irfan, Vox, 5 June 2024 The countries are feeling the force of the same anticyclone. Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 14 July 2023 The culprit was a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus, the multi-headed dog that guards gates to the underworld in Greek mythology. Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2023 Spokesman Rubén del Campo said an anticyclone is pushing a hot mass of air from Africa towards Spain and other Mediterranean countries. Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2023 Another round of high temperatures, part of the heat wave caused by an African anticyclone, is expected in the coming days, with peaks of 48 degrees Celsius, or 118 degrees Fahrenheit, or more. Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 14 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anticyclone was in 1862

Dictionary Entries Near anticyclone

Cite this Entry

“Anticyclone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticyclone. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

anticyclone

noun
an·​ti·​cy·​clone ˌant-i-ˈsī-ˌklōn How to pronounce anticyclone (audio)
: a system of winds that rotates about a center of high atmospheric pressure clockwise in the northern hemisphere, that usually advances at 20 to 30 miles (about 30 to 50 kilometers) per hour, and that usually has a diameter of 1500 to 2500 miles (about 2400 to 4000 kilometers)
anticyclonic adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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