north-easter

A ship sails through rough seas during a north-easter.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A wind from the northeast: "north-easter" refers to a wind or storm that originates from the northeast direction. It is commonly used in meteorology and maritime contexts to describe a strong, often cold or stormy wind blowing from the northeast.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A fierce north-easter swept across the coast, bringing heavy rain and gale-force winds. (A strong wind from the northeast arrived, causing bad weather.)
  • Sailors on the Atlantic are wary of a sudden north-easter, which can make navigation treacherous. (Mariners are cautious about a northeast wind that can be dangerous.)

Advanced Usage

• "The north-easter howled all night": a poetic or dramatic way to describe the sound and intensity of the wind.

  • The north-easter howled all night, rattling the windows and shaking the trees. (The wind from the northeast made a loud, continuous noise.)

• "A north-easter is blowing": a simple statement used in weather reports or everyday conversation to indicate the current wind direction.

  • Put on your coat — a north-easter is blowing, and it's freezing. (A cold wind from the northeast is present.)

Variants and Related Words

• Northeaster (n): an alternative spelling (without a hyphen) meaning the same thing — a wind from the northeast.

  • The forecast calls for a strong northeaster later today. (A wind from the northeast is expected.)

• Northeast (n, adj, adv): the direction or point on the compass halfway between north and east.

  • The wind is coming from the northeast. (The origin direction of the wind.)

• Northeasterly (adj, adv): toward or from the northeast.

  • The ship sailed in a northeasterly direction. (Towards the northeast.)

Synonyms

• Northeast wind: a descriptive phrase for a wind blowing from the northeast.
• Northeast gale: a strong wind from the northeast, often used in storm contexts.

Related Idioms

• "A northeaster is brewing": an idiomatic expression meaning a wind or storm from the northeast is developing.

  • Look at those dark clouds — a northeaster is brewing. (A northeast storm is forming.)

• "Riding the northeaster": a phrase used by sailors to describe navigating with the help of a northeast wind.

  • The old captain was skilled at riding the northeaster to make fast progress. (Using the northeast wind to sail efficiently.)