cold wave

noun

1

: an unusually large and rapid drop in temperature over a short period of time (such as 24 hours)

2

: a permanent wave set by a chemical preparation without the use of heat

Synonyms

• cold
• freeze

Examples of cold wave in a Sentence

the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies

Recent Examples on the Web

A lot of existing NewSeed crops wilted in a heat wave or got frosted in a cold wave or got drowned in a wave wave. —Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

These consisted of 17 severe storms (tornado outbreaks, high wind, hailstorms), 5 tropical cyclones, and 2 winter storm-cold waves, a wildfire and 1 drought/heatwave. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

In 2024, there were 27 confirmed U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters: 17 severe storm events (tornado outbreaks, high wind, hailstorms), five hurricanes, one wildfire, one drought/heat wave and two winter storm/cold wave events. —William "coty" Keller, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025

Additionally, some later writings describing severe winters and cold waves support this thesis. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cold wave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave