weather
WEATHER meaning: the state of the atmosphere at a time and place. The seven-letter word scores 13 points in Scrabble.
Noun 4 meanings
The short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc.
“What's the weather like today?”
Unpleasant or destructive atmospheric conditions, and their effects.
“Wooden garden furniture must be well oiled as it is continuously exposed to weather.”
The direction from which the wind is blowing; used attributively to indicate the windward side.
A situation.
Adjective 1 meaning
Facing towards the flow of a fluid, usually air.
“weather side, weather helm”
Verb 4 meanings
To expose to the weather, or show the effects of such exposure, or to withstand such effects.
To sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to endure; to resist.
“April 18, 1850, Frederick William Robertson, An Address Delivered to the Members of the Working Man's Institute You will weather the difficulties yet.”
To break down, of rocks and other materials, under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight, temperature, and air.
To cause (rocks) to break down by crushing, grinding, and/or dissolving with acids.
Etymology
From Middle English weder, wedir, from Old English weder, from Proto-West Germanic *wedr, from Proto-Germanic *wedrą, from Proto-Indo-European *wedʰrom (=*we-dʰrom), from *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”).
Similar and opposite words
WEATHER covers temperature, wind, cloud and rain, and as a verb it means to survive or wear down through exposure. It ranks 1,401st in English frequency with a count of 26,740. Seven letters and two anagrams make it a useful bingo target.
WEATHER at a glance
- Letters: A, E, E, H, R, T and W.
- Base Scrabble value: 13 points.
- W and H are worth 4 each, which is 8 of the 13.
- Anagrams: WHEREAT and WREATHE.
- Neighbours: LEATHER, HEATHER and FEATHER.
Is WEATHER a good bingo rack?
Yes, and it comes with insurance: the seven tiles A, E, E, H, R, T and W spell three words, so a blocked lane for one word does not end the plan, and all three earn the 50-point bonus when you empty your rack.
WHEREAT means at which place, and WREATHE means to twist into a garland. Both are less familiar than WEATHER, so lead with the common word and keep the others as backups. If a challenge looks likely, WEATHER is the only one of the three that nobody will dispute.
Which words sit one letter from WEATHER?
LEATHER, HEATHER and FEATHER all share the -EATHER tail, and each swaps only the first tile. LEATHER scores 10, while HEATHER and FEATHER score 13 each, the same as WEATHER, because the heavy first tile replaces the W. Hold an F or an H and either is a strong alternative.
That shared tail is a useful board pattern: an open -EATHER on a row accepts four different first tiles, so you can pick whichever letter you hold. The W, L, H and F all fit, giving you a choice instead of a gamble.
Placement tip
Aim the W or the H, not both, at a premium square. Each is worth 4, so one double-letter square lifts WEATHER from 13 to 17.
Rhymes with weather
All rhymesOne letter away
- LEATHER10
- HEATHER13
- FEATHER13
Questions people ask
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