monsoon
UK[mɒnˈsuːn]US[mɑːnˈsuːn]
n
A seasonal wind in South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer (bringing rain) and from the northeast in winter.
n
The rainy season that accompanies the summer monsoon.
Etymology
The word 'monsoon' entered English in the late 16th century from Portuguese 'monção', which was itself derived from Arabic 'mawsim', meaning 'season'. The Arabic term traces back to the root 'wasama', meaning 'to mark' or 'to brand', conceptually linked to a fixed or appointed time. This etymological journey—from a Semitic root for a designated season, through Arabic trade terminology, into Portuguese and finally English—perfectly encapsulates the word's core meaning: a predictable, seasonal shift in wind and weather patterns crucial to navigation and agriculture in the Indian Ocean region.
Analysis
The word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in English. Its components are not productive morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The farmers eagerly await the arrival of the monsoon each year.
Our travel plans were disrupted by the heavy monsoon rains.
The monsoon winds have historically dictated trade routes across the Indian Ocean.