orographic

adjective

oro·​graph·​ic ˌȯr-ə-ˈgra-fik 

variants or less commonly orographical

ˌȯr-ə-ˈgra-fi-kəl 

: of or relating to mountains

especially : associated with or induced by the presence of mountains

orographic rainfall

Examples of orographic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this case, the Catoctin Mountains helped force air flowing in from the west to rise through a process known as orographic lift. — Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024

In the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, Helene’s rain was enhanced by the terrain and what’s known as orographic uplift. — Cary Mock, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024

Notice all the dark blue spots around the West Coast mountains, for example, where Pacific Ocean moisture gets carried by westerly winds, squeezing out more snowfall through what is known as orographic lift. — Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025

Because of orographic effects, in other words the terrain, mountain regions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Caroline could experience more than a foot of rainfall. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

orography + -ic entry 1, probably after French orographique or German orographisch

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for orographic

• autographic
• biographic
• calligraphic
• cartographic
• cryptographic
• demographic
• epigraphic
• ethnographic
• geographic
• holographic
• hydrographic
• lithographic