Pluvial
[ ploo-vee-uh l ]
adjective
1. of or relating to rain
2. characterized by abundant rainfall
3. Geology. (of a geologic location) resulting from rain
noun
4. Geology. a rainy period formerly regarded as coeval with a glacial age, but now recognized as episodic and, in the tropics, as characteristic of interglacial ages
5. Archaic. a type of long cloak used by clerics in the 17th century to shield against rain during processions
synonyms
hyetal
diluvial
rainy
stormy
wet
origin
1650s-; from Latin pluvialis, from pluvia ‘rain’
example
Squinting through the third downpour on her long drive, Mary wished the gps hadn’t taken her through such a pluvial area.
related forms
pluvious (adj.), pluviate (verb), pluviation (noun)









