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gale

noun
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\ ˈgāl How to pronounce gale (audio) \

Definition of gale

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a strong current of air:
(1) : a wind from 32 to 63 miles per hour (about 51 to 102 kilometers per hour)
(2) : fresh gale — see Beaufort Scale Table
b archaic : breeze
2 : an emotional outburst gales of laughter

Gale

biographical name
\ ˈgāl How to pronounce Gale (audio) \

Definition of Gale (Entry 2 of 2)

Zona 1874–1938 American novelist
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about gale

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Examples of gale in a Sentence

Noun The boat was damaged in a strong gale. The winds approached gale force. The audience erupted in gales of laughter.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Rare is the team that remains right-side up on the downhill plunge, and many teams have been pinned for hours, even days, by gale-force winds on Eagle Summit slopes. — John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, "Snow is on the ground. But what about the sled dog races that traditionally accompany it?," 31 Oct. 2020 Zeta still had winds of 50 mph and was expected to lose its tropical features and become a non-tropical gale-force low later today. — Leigh Morgan, al, "Tropical Storm Zeta speeds away from Alabama but leaves a big mess behind," 29 Oct. 2020 Zeta was forecast to be a non-tropical gale-force low later today. — CBS News, "Tropical Storm Zeta racing along after slamming into Louisiana as powerful Category 2 hurricane," 29 Oct. 2020 Zeta is expected to become a non-tropical gale-force low later Thursday, forecasters said. — Carlie Wells, NOLA.com, "Another one? Tropical depression could form this weekend in Caribbean," 29 Oct. 2020 Windy was hardly the appropriate word for what actually occurred: gale-force winds with gusts over 60 miles per hour. — Dorothy Dworkin, sun-sentinel.com, "Moving is never easy | Opinion," 23 Oct. 2020 This system brought gale-force winds to the eastern portions of the Azores Islands measuring in at just below 50 mph, according to NHC data. — Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, "Hurricane facts: While 2020 marks debut of the name ‘Eta,’ 2005 could have had one too," 24 Sep. 2020 To his fiercest detractors, these missteps were unforgivable, though how much of their implacability was politics in the conservative gale and how much morality is impossible to say. — Edward Kosner, WSJ, "‘Catching the Wind’ Review: The Liberal Lion in Full," 23 Oct. 2020 Smoke had just begun to fill the forest that Friday, Sept. 4, carried by winds that would soon gather into a horrific gale over Labor Day, fanning several Oregon wildfires into sheer devastation. — oregonlive, "Opal Creek burned badly by wildfires, Jawbone Flats almost completely destroyed," 6 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of gale

Noun

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for gale

Noun

of obscure origin

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Time Traveler for gale

Time Traveler

The first known use of gale was circa 1547

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Statistics for gale

Last Updated

8 Nov 2020

Cite this Entry

“Gale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gale. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.

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More Definitions for gale

gale

noun
How to pronounce Gale (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of gale

: a very strong wind
: a sudden occurrence of laughter, tears, etc.

See the full definition for gale in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gale

noun
\ ˈgāl How to pronounce gale (audio) \

Kids Definition of gale

1 : a strong wind
2 : a wind of from about 32 to 63 miles per hour (about 51 to 101 kilometers per hour)
3 : an outburst of amusement gales of laughter

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More from Merriam-Webster on gale

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gale

Nglish: Translation of gale for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gale for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gale

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