light wind

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A gentle breeze that moves leaves and small flags but is not strong enough to be called a wind of real force.

   Grammar: Countable, so you can say 'a light wind' or 'light winds'; it is often used in the plural in forecasts.

   Patterns

   • a light wind from the sea
   • light winds and sunshine
   • blowing in a light wind

   The race went ahead in a light wind that barely filled the sails.

   A light wind stirred the leaves but the afternoon stayed warm.

   Forecasters expect light winds along the coast tomorrow morning.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A low reading on the wind scale, used in sailing and flying when conditions are calm and easy.

   Grammar: Often appears in the plural in technical weather and sailing reports: 'light winds of force 2 to 3'.

   Patterns

   • light winds of force 2
   • sailing in light winds
   • light wind conditions

   Light winds of force 2 kept the yachts moving slowly.

   Pilots prefer light wind conditions when landing on the grass strip.

Word forms

Common combinations

a light wind blew

A light wind blew across the empty field.

in a light wind

We sailed in a light wind all afternoon.

light winds and sunshine

The forecast promises light winds and sunshine.

a light wind from the west

A light wind from the west carried the smell of rain.

barely a light wind

There was barely a light wind, so the boats hardly moved.

Synonyms and how they differ

breeze

A breeze is the everyday word for a pleasant light wind, and it often suggests warm, comfortable weather.

breath of wind

This phrase is more literary and suggests a very faint movement of air, even lighter than a light wind.

zephyr

Zephyr is literary and old-fashioned, used mostly in poetry for a soft gentle wind.

Opposites

Word family

windy adjective

Describing weather with a lot of wind.

wind noun

Air moving naturally across the earth's surface.

windswept adjective

Exposed to strong winds and often looking untidy because of them.

Commonly confused: light wind or lightning?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “light wind”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words