whitecap
Definition
Noun: A wave with a white, foamy crest, caused by the wind breaking the top of the wave.
Usage
This word is used specifically to describe a common sight on oceans, seas, or large lakes when the wind is strong enough to create waves with broken, white tops.
Examples
- The strong breeze churned the bay into a field of whitecaps.
- From the shore, we could see the whitecaps marching toward the beach.
- Sailors know that numerous whitecaps often indicate increasing wind speed.
Advanced Usage
- Meteorological Indicator: In marine forecasting, the prevalence of whitecaps is used as a visual cue to estimate wind speed and sea state.
- Descriptive Detail: Frequently used in literary and descriptive writing to evoke the image of a rough or lively body of water.
Variants and Related Words
- White horse (noun, chiefly British): A synonym for whitecap.
- Breaker (noun): A wave that breaks into foam, often on the shore or over a reef. (A whitecap is a type of breaker caused specifically by wind in open water).
Synonyms
- Foam-crested wave
- White horse (British)
Antonyms
- Calm
- Glassy sea
- Smooth water
Noun
-
a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white
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