zephyr

views updated May 14 2018

zeph·yr / ˈzefər/ • n. 1. poetic/lit. a soft gentle breeze. 2. hist. a fine cotton gingham. ∎  a very light article of clothing.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

zephyr

views updated May 08 2018

zephyr A prevailing light and warming breeze from the west at the time of the summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere).

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

zephyr

views updated May 14 2018

zephyr west wind XVI (earlier in L. form); mild gentle wind XVII; light article of clothing XVIII. — F. zéphyr or L. zephyrus — Gr. zéphuros.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

Zephyr

views updated May 18 2018

Zephyr in classical mythology, the god of the west wind; from the late 17th century, zephyr has also been a literary term for a soft gentle breeze.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

zephyr

views updated May 29 2018

zephyr A prevailing light and warming breeze from the west at the time of the summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere).

A Dictionary of Ecology MICHAEL ALLABY

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

Zephyr

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like