climate
UK[ˈklaɪmət]US[ˈklaɪmət]
n
The general weather conditions that are typical of a particular region or area over a long period.
n
A general attitude, mood, or feeling that exists in a particular place or situation.
Etymology
The word 'climate' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'climat', which itself derived from Latin 'clima' (genitive 'climatis'), meaning "region, slope of the earth." The Latin term was borrowed from Greek 'klima' (genitive 'klimatos'), which meant "inclination, slope," and specifically referred to the slope of the earth from the equator to the pole. This geographical concept was used by ancient Greek astronomers to divide the earth into zones based on latitude, which directly influenced the typical weather of a region. Over time, the meaning evolved from a purely geographical zone to the characteristic weather patterns of that zone, and later metaphorically extended to describe the prevailing social or political atmosphere of a place.
Analysis
The word 'climate' is a simplex loanword from Latin. It is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
The tropical climate is characterized by high temperatures and heavy rainfall.
There has been a significant shift in the political climate since the election.
Scientists are studying the impact of global warming on the world's climate.