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jet stream
noun
: a long narrow meandering current of high-speed winds near the tropopause blowing from a generally westerly direction and often exceeding a speed of 250 miles (402 kilometers) per hour
Examples of jet stream in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The jet stream sweeps WASP-127b’s equator at over 20,000 miles per hour.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
The jet stream typically acts as a barrier to keep the polar vortex contained near the Arctic, but at times, some of the vortex can break off or move south, bringing unusually cold weather into the U.S., Europe and Asia.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
Due to La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean, the jet stream is buckled to the north and all the rain storms are being steered away from southern California.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
The same plunging jet stream is the primary cause of the current major winter storm.
—Jim Foerster, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1947, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near jet stream
Cite this Entry
“Jet stream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jet%20stream. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
jet stream
noun
: a long narrow wandering current of high-speed winds blowing from a generally westerly direction several miles above the earth's surface
More from Merriam-Webster on jet stream
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jet stream
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