cold wave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-Medium (as a meteorological term).Formal (meteorology, news); Specialised (hairdressing).
Quick answer
What does “cold wave” mean?
A period of unusually cold weather, typically lasting several days, with temperatures well below the average for that region and time of year.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of unusually cold weather, typically lasting several days, with temperatures well below the average for that region and time of year.
In hairdressing/beauty, it refers to a method of creating curls in the hair using a chemical solution without the application of heat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In meteorological reporting, both use the term similarly. The hairdressing sense may be recognised in both but is largely historical.
Connotations
UK media may report on a 'cold spell' or 'big freeze' more often in everyday talk, while US media uses 'cold wave' or 'arctic blast'.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American meteorological forecasts and news reports than in British ones.
Grammar
How to Use “cold wave” in a Sentence
A cold wave sweeps across [region].A cold wave grips [region].[Region] is hit/battered by a cold wave.Meteorologists warn of a cold wave.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold wave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The country is about to be cold-waved.
American English
- The state got cold-waved last night.
adjective
British English
- A cold-wave warning is in effect.
American English
- Cold-wave conditions are expected.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Potential impact on retail (sales of heating fuel, winter clothing), agriculture (crop damage), and energy demand.
Academic
Used in climatology, meteorology, and environmental science papers to describe specific weather events.
Everyday
Used in weather forecasts and news reports to warn of upcoming severe cold conditions.
Technical
Meteorological definition often involves specific temperature drops below a threshold over a set period.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cold wave”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cold wave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold wave”
- Using 'cold wave' to describe a general feeling of being cold (e.g., 'I felt a cold wave' is not idiomatic). Confusing it with 'cold front', which is the leading edge of the cold air mass.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cold front is the boundary where a cold air mass replaces a warmer one. A cold wave is the *resulting period* of persistently cold weather that follows.
Typically at least 24-48 hours, but definitions vary by meteorological service. Some require temperatures to be below a specific threshold for two or more consecutive days.
It is very rare and non-standard. The verb form 'to cold-wave' (meaning to perm hair) is historical. For weather, we say a region 'is hit by' or 'experiences' a cold wave.
A 'heatwave' is the direct opposite, describing a prolonged period of excessively hot weather.
A period of unusually cold weather, typically lasting several days, with temperatures well below the average for that region and time of year.
Cold wave is usually formal (meteorology, news); specialised (hairdressing). in register.
Cold wave: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊld weɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊld weɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Send a cold wave down one's spine (rare/extended metaphor for sudden fear).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'wave' of icy air moving across a map, much like a wave in the ocean, but bringing cold instead of water.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLD IS A MOVING FORCE/SUBMSTANCE (a wave that sweeps, grips, or hits).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical meaning or use of 'cold wave'?