aeolian

1 of 4

adjective (1)

ae·​o·​lian ē-ˈō-lē-ən 

ē-ˈōl-yən

1

often capitalized : of or relating to Aeolus

2

: giving forth or marked by a moaning or sighing sound or musical tone produced by or as if by the wind

aeolian

2 of 4

adjective (2)

ae·​o·​lian

less common spelling of eolian

: borne, deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind

Aeolian

3 of 4

adjective (3)

Ae·​o·​lian ē-ˈō-lē-ən  ā- 

-ˈōl-yən

: of or relating to Aeolis or its inhabitants

Aeolian

4 of 4

noun

1

: a member of a group of Greek peoples of Thessaly and Boeotia that colonized Lesbos and the adjacent coast of Asia Minor

2

: aeolic

Examples of aeolian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With textured dials inspired by the natural aeolian sand patterns of France’s Dune du Pilat, these watches combine rugged field-watch styling with modern specs. —Matthew Catellier, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

The cooling effect of fragrant terpene aerosols from coniferous boreal forests was decreasing, and aeolian accumulations of dust on the Loess Plateau indicated that human existence did not coincide with a high-carbon atmosphere until 1965. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's magazine, 25 Nov. 2019

Noun

Oenophiles in the Aeolian Islands should go wine tasting at a local vineyard and sample local dessert wine. —Jamie Ditaranto, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2023

Vesuvius and company are part of the Campania Magmatic Province while Etna belongs to the Sicily Magmatic Province and Stromboli to yet another, the Aeolian Arc Magmatic Province. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023

The Italian Aeolian Islands are a recent and delightful discovery. —Isabella Sullivan, Robb Report, 27 July 2023

Off the shore of eastern Sicily, however, a section of the African plate plunges beneath the Eurasian plate, which drives the volcanic eruptions of the Aeolian Islands. —Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Aeolus, god of the winds (borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek Aíolos) + -ian entry 2

Adjective (3)

Aeolis, Aeolia, ancient territory in Asia Minor (borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek Aiolís) + -an entry 2

Noun

derivative of aeolian entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1853, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (3)

1567, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aeolian

• aeolian harp

Kids Definition

aeolian

variant of eolian