monsoon
gb/mɑnsˈun/ us/mɑnsˈun/
B2
English
monszun, felhőszakadás
NOUN
B2
1
monszun
B2
Usage pattern:
the monsoon; during/before/after the monsoon
Farmers waited for the monsoon before planting rice.
A gazdák megvárták a monszunt, mielőtt elültették a rizst.
The monsoon arrived late this year, leaving reservoirs dangerously low.
Idén későn érkezett meg a monszun, ezért a víztározók szintje veszélyesen alacsony maradt.
During the monsoon, streets in Mumbai can flood within minutes.
Learner examples
The monsoon brings heavy rain every summer.
A monszun minden nyáron heves esőzéseket hoz.
We visited the city after the monsoon.
A monszun után látogattuk meg a várost.
Common mistake:
Do not use monsoon for light or ordinary rain; it suggests a seasonal pattern or very heavy rain.
Meaning
Seasonal heavy rainy period
Collocations
the annual monsoon
|the summer monsoon
|a late monsoon
|a weak monsoon
|monsoon rains
|monsoon flooding
|the monsoon arrives
|the monsoon begins
|the monsoon fails
|during the monsoon
Synonyms
rainy season (broader; any regular wet season, not necessarily caused by monsoon winds)
|
wet season (more general and less region-specific)
|
the rains (common in some regions for the seasonal rainy period)
Antonyms
dry season (the regular part of the year with little rain)
|
drought (an abnormal shortage of rain rather than the opposite season)
Themes
weather
|climate
|geography
|seasons
Definition
the time of year when a place gets very heavy seasonal rain
the seasonal period of heavy rain in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and some other regions, caused by a regular change in prevailing winds
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
monszun
C1
Usage pattern:
a/the [regional] monsoon; the [southwest/northeast] monsoon
The southwest monsoon carries moist air from the Arabian Sea toward India.
A délnyugati monszun nedves levegőt szállít az Arab-tenger felől India felé.
A monsoon develops when land and ocean heat at different rates.
A monszun akkor alakul ki, amikor a szárazföld és az óceán eltérő ütemben melegszik fel.
In winter, the monsoon can reverse and bring drier air from the continent.
Learner examples
A monsoon wind changes direction with the season.
A monszunszél az évszakkal együtt irányt vált.
Common mistake:
In meteorology, a monsoon is a wind pattern, not only the rain it brings.
Meaning
Seasonal reversing wind system
Collocations
the southwest monsoon
|the northeast monsoon
|the Indian monsoon
|the East Asian monsoon
|monsoon winds
|monsoon circulation
|monsoon flow
|a monsoon system
Synonyms
seasonal wind (clearer but less specific)
|
monsoon circulation (more technical; emphasizes the whole atmospheric system)
Themes
weather
|climate
|meteorology
|geography
Definition
a seasonal wind that changes direction and can bring heavy rain
a large-scale seasonal wind system that reverses direction between seasons, often bringing wet weather in one season and drier weather in another
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a monsoon; an absolute monsoon; like a monsoon
We got caught in a monsoon on the walk back from the station.
Az állomásról visszafelé menet elkapott minket egy felhőszakadás.
It was an absolute monsoon outside by halftime.
A félidőre odakint valóságos felhőszakadás volt.
The picnic ended when a sudden monsoon swept across the park.
Learner examples
It was a monsoon outside, so we stayed home.
Odakint felhőszakadás volt, ezért otthon maradtunk.
Common mistake:
This informal use is often exaggerated; for ordinary heavy rain, downpour is more neutral.
Meaning
Very heavy downpour
Collocations
a sudden monsoon
|an absolute monsoon
|a mini-monsoon
|caught in a monsoon
|a monsoon of rain
Synonyms
downpour (neutral and common for heavy rain)
|
deluge (more dramatic; can also be figurative)
|
cloudburst (emphasizes a sudden, intense burst of rain)
Antonyms
drizzle (very light rain)
|
sprinkle (light, brief rain)
Themes
weather
|informal_language
Definition
a sudden period of extremely heavy rain
a very heavy fall of rain, especially one that starts suddenly; used informally outside true monsoon regions
Grammar
Dictionary form
monsoon
IPA
GB/mɑnsˈun/
US/mɑnsˈun/
Syllables & stress
mon - soon (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (soon)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: monsoon
- Plural: monsoons
Expressions
like a monsoon
1/lˈaɪk ə mɑnsˈun/
fixed phrase
informal
With extremely heavy rain
used to say that it is raining extremely hard
Examples
- It poured like a monsoon during the outdoor concert.
- Rain was coming down like a monsoon by the time we reached the car.
- Water rushed through the broken roof like a monsoon.
Learner examples
- It is raining like a monsoon.
- The storm came down like a monsoon.
monsoon rains
1/mɑnsˈun ɹˈeɪnz/
fixed phrase
Heavy seasonal monsoon rainfall
the heavy rains that come with the monsoon
Examples
- The monsoon rains restored the city's water supply.
- Villages prepared for flooding before the monsoon rains began.
- A poor harvest followed when the monsoon rains failed.
Learner examples
- The monsoon rains are very heavy.
- Farmers need the monsoon rains.
monsoon season
1/mɑnsˈun sˈizən/
fixed phrase
Season of monsoon weather
the time of year when monsoon rains usually happen
Examples
- Travel can be cheaper during monsoon season, but roads may flood.
- The hotel closes for part of the monsoon season.
- Monsoon season in Arizona often brings intense afternoon storms.
Learner examples
- Monsoon season starts in June.
- We should take raincoats during monsoon season.
summer monsoon
1/sˈʌmɚ mɑnsˈun/
fixed phrase
technical
Warm-season wet monsoon
the monsoon that comes in summer and usually brings rain
Examples
- The summer monsoon supplies much of India's annual rainfall.
- A weak summer monsoon can lead to water shortages.
- Forecasters expect the summer monsoon to arrive later than usual.
Learner examples
- The summer monsoon brings rain to many areas.