Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cooling breeze from the sea (during the daytime): A "sea breeze" is a local wind that blows from a large body of water (like an ocean or sea) toward the adjacent land. It typically occurs during the day when the land heats up faster than the water, causing air over the land to rise. Cooler, denser air from over the water then moves inland to replace the rising warm air, creating a refreshing, onshore breeze.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We enjoyed the gentle sea breeze while walking along the shore.
  • The sea breeze provides welcome relief from the afternoon heat.
  • Sailors waited for the sea breeze to fill their sails.

Advanced Usage

• "To be tempered by a sea breeze": To be made more pleasant or moderate by the cooling effect of a sea breeze.
  • The coastal heat was tempered by a steady sea breeze.
• "A steady/light/fresh sea breeze": Common collocations describing the nature of the wind.
  • A fresh sea breeze kept the flags fluttering.

Variants and Related Words

• Land breeze (n): The opposite phenomenon, a breeze that blows from the land to the sea, typically at night when the land cools faster than the water.
• Onshore wind (n): A general term for any wind blowing from the sea onto the land.
• Thermal circulation (n): The scientific term for the pattern of airflow, like a sea breeze, caused by differential heating.

Synonyms

• Onshore breeze: A breeze coming from the sea onto the land.
• Coastal wind: A wind characteristic of coastal areas, which can include sea breezes.

Related Phrases

• Sea breeze front (n): The boundary where the cool sea breeze meets the warmer air over the land, which can sometimes lead to cloud formation.
  • Cumulus clouds often form along the sea breeze front.

Related Idioms

• To catch the sea breeze: To go somewhere to experience the cooling wind from the sea.
  • Let's go to the cliff to catch the sea breeze.

Noun

1. a cooling breeze from the sea (during the daytime)