Weather / B2

GAYL/ɡeɪl/

A gale is a very strong wind: a gale warning; gales overnight. Wind is the general word; storm often includes rain. Met Office: gale warning cancelled fieldwork. Beaufort scale: a gale is a defined force. Do not call a breeze a gale.

Meaning

A very strong wind.

Examples

• “A gale warning cancelled the geography fieldwork on the headland.”
• “Overnight gales brought trees down on the line, which is a typical bulletin.”

Good to know

a gale warning; gale-force winds. General: wind. Wider/worse: storm / hurricane. Met Office and travel news. Strength, not drizzle.

Near in meaning

storm

Topics

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