mountain wave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequencyTechnical (Meteorology, Aviation)
Quick answer
What does “mountain wave” mean?
A standing wave in the atmosphere, caused by air flowing over mountains.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A standing wave in the atmosphere, caused by air flowing over mountains.
In aviation, a phenomenon of wind shear and turbulence, often creating hazardous conditions for aircraft, and sometimes visible as lenticular clouds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; both varieties use the same term within technical contexts.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations of atmospheric disturbance and potential flight hazard.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in aviation and meteorological communities in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “mountain wave” in a Sentence
The pilot encountered a mountain wave.A mountain wave formed downwind of the Rockies.Flying through a mountain wave is dangerous.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mountain wave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The aircraft was mountain-waving violently. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The plane began to mountain-wave. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- mountain-wave conditions (compound adjective)
American English
- mountain-wave activity (compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in aviation/tourism risk management.
Academic
Common in meteorology, atmospheric science, and aviation studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
Core term in aviation meteorology for a specific hazardous condition.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mountain wave”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mountain wave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mountain wave”
- Using it as a plural ('mountain waves') when referring to the specific phenomenon (though possible in general descriptions). Confusing it with wind gusts or simple turbulence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can cause severe turbulence, rapid altitude changes, and structural stress on aircraft, making it a significant aviation hazard.
Often, yes. The wave can be made visible by stationary lenticular clouds that form at the crests of the wave.
They are common downwind (lee) of major mountain ranges like the Rockies, the Alps, the Andes, and the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
Not exactly. A mountain wave is a specific phenomenon that *causes* a particular type of turbulence (mountain wave turbulence), which is often more severe and organized than general convective turbulence.
A standing wave in the atmosphere, caused by air flowing over mountains.
Mountain wave is usually technical (meteorology, aviation) in register.
Mountain wave: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊn.tɪn ˌweɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊn.tən ˌweɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be caught in a mountain wave.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a mountain making waves in the sky like a stone in a pond.
Conceptual Metaphor
AIR IS WATER (air flows and forms waves like water).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'mountain wave'?