Etymology From Middle English climat, from Old French climat, from Latin clima, from Ancient Greek κλίμα (klíma, “latitude”, literally “inclination”).
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The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).
As fruits of hotter countries, transearthed in colder climates, have vigour enough in themselves to be fructuous according to their nature: but, that they are hindered by the chilling nips of the air, and the soil, wherein they are planted.1904, Owen Felltham, William Henry Oliphant Smeaton, Resolves:
And the effects from climate change are already extreme.2018, VOA Learning English > China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns:
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Figuratively The context in general of a particular political, moral, etc., situation.
Industries that require a lot of fossil fuels are unlikely to be popular in the current political climate.
In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial.2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times:
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This isn't the time for militant unionism. If I were at ScotRail, in the current climate I'd trade a pay freeze [sic: pay rise?] for job security.2020 December 2, Philip Haigh, “A winter of discontent caused by threat of union action”, in Rail, page 63:
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Obsolete An area of the earth's surface between two parallels of latitude.
The blessed gods / Purge all infection from our air whilst you / Do climate here!c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], line 169: