Meaning & use
katabatic
Describing a wind that flows downhill under gravity, usually carrying cold, dense air from higher elevations.
See it in a sentence
A katabatic wind swept down the mountainside each night, chilling the valley below.
Antarctica experiences some of the strongest katabatic winds on Earth, driven by its ice sheets.
A note on using this word
Katabatic winds are caused by gravity pulling cold, dense air downward, unlike anabatic winds, which rise up slopes as air warms.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
anabatic
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “katabatic”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.