whitecap

Thân thiện

A small whitecap breaks on the surface of the deep blue sea.

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

Học thuật

Noun

1. a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white

Từ đồng nghĩa

• white horse