weathering

noun

weath·er·ing | \ ˈwet͟h-riŋ, ˈwe-t͟hə-

How to pronounce weathering (audio)

\

Definition of weathering

: the action of the weather conditions in altering the color, texture, composition, or form of exposed objects specifically : the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of earth materials at or near the earth's surface

Examples of weathering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Geologic weathering kept doling out meager rations of the nutrient, and ecosystems developed ways to conserve and recycle it. — Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, "We Broke Phosphorus," 8 Feb. 2021 This process of weathering can take thousands, even millions, of years. — Julia Rosen, The Atlantic, "We Broke Phosphorus," 8 Feb. 2021 It is known as enhanced weathering, not weatherization. — New York Times, "Corrections: Jan. 20, 2021," 19 Jan. 2021 Their results showed that the weathering was more evident in fibers found in the west. — Matt Simon, Wired, "The Arctic Ocean Is Teeming With Microfibers From Clothes," 12 Jan. 2021 Separately, a joint program with the Department of Agriculture would fund projects for other forms of carbon capture, including forestry, agricultural practices, and rock weathering. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "The omnibus bill was packed with energy and environment policy," 23 Dec. 2020 First-Rate Ingredients Just like your skin begins to crack from weathering, leather shows age and stress in the form of splits that can eventually become tears. — The Editors, Outdoor Life, "Three Ways to Give Old Leather a New Life," 26 Sep. 2019 Take clay, for instance, which forms when chemical weathering reduces aluminum silicate minerals to aluminum and silicon oxides. — David Lumb, Popular Mechanics, "109 Ways Silicon Completely Rules Every Part of Your Life," 9 Dec. 2020 But the hypothesis wasn't yet a slam dunk, although the small discrepancies in the data could be explained by the weathering of the steel after 54 years of exposure to harsh space weather. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Strange object recaptured by Earth is 1966 booster rocket from Surveyor 2," 8 Dec. 2020

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about weathering

Dictionary Entries near weathering

Statistics for weathering

Last Updated

28 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Weathering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weathering. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

Comments on weathering

What made you want to look up weathering? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

organoleptic

Listen to the pronunciation of organoleptic

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

February 2021 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of perdure?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ