trade wind

noun

: a wind blowing almost constantly in one direction

especially : a wind blowing almost continually toward the equator from the northeast in the belt between the northern horse latitudes and the doldrums and from the southeast in the belt between the southern horse latitudes and the doldrums

—usually used in plural

Examples of trade wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists say that’s likely due to a number of factors, including a volcanic explosion that shot water vapor into the atmosphere, weaker trade winds across the Atlantic and — bizarrely — a successful effort to reduce air pollution by ships crossing the Atlantic. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 3 July 2024

Klotzbach said a high pressure system that normally sets up cooling trade winds collapsed then and hasn’t returned. —Seth Borenstein, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2024

One sailor had dropped out, leaving just four boats plowing down the coast of Africa — Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania — in search of the trade winds. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024

First, through a combination of weaker trade winds and westerlies over the tropical Atlantic, La Niña tends to create a more placid atmosphere. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trade wind

noun

: a wind blowing almost constantly toward the equator from an easterly direction