mcclure strait: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare in general discourse. Low in academic/geographical contexts. Very high in specific Arctic navigation/history contexts.Formal, academic, geographical, technical.
Quick answer
What does “mcclure strait” mean?
A narrow sea passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Beaufort Sea to the Viscount Melville Sound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A narrow sea passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Beaufort Sea to the Viscount Melville Sound.
A strategically significant and often ice-choked Arctic waterway, historically important for navigation and exploration, named after British explorer Robert McClure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The name is standardized. Spelling is consistent. Potentially more frequent in Canadian English.
Connotations
Connotations of exploration, hardship, historical achievement (finding the Northwest Passage), and the challenging Arctic environment are shared globally.
Frequency
Frequency is context-dependent globally. Likely slightly more common in Canadian media/academia due to national geography.
Grammar
How to Use “mcclure strait” in a Sentence
The [ship/expedition] sailed through McClure Strait.McClure Strait links the Beaufort Sea and Viscount Melville Sound.Ice conditions in McClure Strait are severe.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mcclure strait” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vessel aimed to mcclure_strait its way through the ice. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
American English
- They hoped to mcclure_strait a path north. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
adverb
British English
- The ship proceeded mcclure_strait-wards. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
American English
- They sailed almost mcclure_strait-style through the ice. (Non-standard, hypothetical)
adjective
British English
- The McClure Strait crossing is legendary.
American English
- The McClure Strait route is now more navigable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possible in shipping, logistics, or natural resource extraction reports concerning the Arctic.
Academic
Common in geography, history, environmental science, and polar studies papers.
Everyday
Virtually non-existent outside of specific discussions about the Arctic or geography quizzes.
Technical
Standard in nautical charts, maritime navigation, climatology (sea ice monitoring), and geological surveys.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mcclure strait”
- Misspelling as 'McCluer', 'McClure Straight'.
- Using without definite article (e.g., 'sailed through McClure Strait' is correct, not 'sailed through the McClure Strait').
- Confusing it with the broader 'Northwest Passage'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was named after Sir Robert John Le Mesurier McClure, an Irish explorer who was credited with discovering the Northwest Passage while searching for the lost Franklin Expedition.
No. It is historically known for being perennially blocked by thick, multi-year ice, making it impassable for most vessels. However, reduced summer sea ice has occasionally opened it in the 21st century.
No, it is not the same. McClure Strait is one of several possible routes *through* the Canadian Arctic Archipelago that collectively form the Northwest Passage. It is often considered the most direct but also the most ice-prone route.
It is a key indicator for climate change in the Arctic (ice melt) and a potential future shipping route, which raises questions about sovereignty, safety, and environmental protection in the region.
A narrow sea passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Beaufort Sea to the Viscount Melville Sound.
Mcclure strait is usually formal, academic, geographical, technical. in register.
Mcclure strait: in British English it is pronounced /məˈklʊə streɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈklʊr streɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a proper geographical name.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'McClure found a clue to the Passage through his strait.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A gateway (to the Northwest Passage), a frozen challenge, a historical trophy.
Practice
Quiz
What bodies of water does McClure Strait connect?