El Ni·ño (n n y )n. A warming of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America that occurs every 4 to 12 years when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. It causes die-offs of plankton and fish and affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world. [American Spanish, from Spanish, the Christ child (from its onset being around Christmastide) : el, the (from Latin ille; see al-1 in Indo-European roots) + niño, child (from Old Spanish ninno, from Vulgar Latin *n  nnus).] |
El Niño [ɛl ˈniːnjəʊ]
n
(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) Meteorol a warming of the eastern tropical Pacific occurring every few years, which alters the weather pattern of the tropics
[from Spanish: The Child, i.e. Christ, referring to its original occurrence at Christmas time]
Translations
El Niño
n → El Niño m
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