Definition

Adjective: 1. Shaped or altered by the force of the wind: Describes something, especially a tree or plant, whose growth pattern, form, or position has been permanently affected by strong, persistent winds. 2. Blown about or carried by the wind: Describes something, such as hair, sand, or leaves, that is being moved or scattered by the wind.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The windblown pines on the cliff edge leaned dramatically away from the sea.
  • Her windblown hair was tangled after the walk along the beach.
  • The landscape was dotted with windblown shrubs, all bent in the same easterly direction.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative Use: Can describe a person or thing that appears tousled, untidy, or naturally shaped by elemental forces.
  • He had a rugged, windblown look that suited the sailor's life.
• In Geology/Ecology: A formal term to describe vegetation or landforms (e.g., windblown sand dunes) shaped by aeolian (wind) processes.

Variants and Related Words

• Wind-swept (adj.): Very similar in meaning, often used interchangeably with "windblown" to describe landscapes or appearances shaped by the wind.
• Blown (adj.): Can be used in a similar context (e.g., "blown sand"), but is more general and not specific to a permanent, shaped form.

Synonyms

• Bent
• Tousled
• Unkempt (when referring to appearance)
• Aerodynamic (in a technical sense)

Related Phrases

• Weather-beaten: While similar, this implies the effect of all weather elements (sun, rain, wind), not just wind.
• Gale-force: Describes the strength of the wind that causes something to become windblown.

Adjective

1. used especially of trees; growing in a shape determined by the prevailing winds