cold wave

An onset of unusually cold weather within a 24-hour period.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cold wave

1. (Physical Geography) meteorol a sudden spell of low temperatures over a wide area, often following the passage of a cold front

2. (Hairdressing & Grooming) hairdressing a permanent wave made by chemical agents applied at normal temperatures

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cold′ wave`

1. a rapid and considerable drop in temperature, usu. affecting a large area.

2. a permanent wave set in the hair by chemical solutions without the aid of heat.

[1875–80]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

cold wave - a wave of unusually cold weather

wave - a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures); "a heat wave"

Mentioned in

wave

References in classic literature

I had lived in a clammy atmosphere of reverence, respect, deference, so long that they sent a quivery little cold wave through me:

View in context

Zhob -- Zhob valley received the first snowfall of the winter accompanied by light rain, intensifying the cold wave and bringing the mercury down here.

Snowfall, rain in Zhob; mountains wear white blanket

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in response to the current severe cold wave in Bangladesh, has initiated a project to provide winterisation non-food items for the affected households.

QRCS provides winterisation aid for 8,000 Bangladeshis

KARACHI -- Severe cold wave hit Karachi and other parts of Sindh on Wednesday, affecting routine life activities.

Severe cold hits Karachi, other parts of Sindh

'At the same time, the ongoing cold wave conditions are likely to persist during next one week and people should not expect relief from the prevailing cold spell', experts opined.

Severe Cold wave grips AJK

On January 31, the minimums can oscillate between 8 Degree Celsius to 9 Degree Celsius and eventually they would witness a rising trend, thus abating the Cold Wave condition over the region.

Delhi: Cold wave abates but moderate rain likely on Jan 30

Egypt has been hit by a cold wave and sand storm on Sunday which will continue until Tuesday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said in an official statement.

Sand storm hits Egypt, shuts down main sea ports

Mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over the regions of Dinajpur, Tetulia, Dimla, Rajarhat, Rajshahi, Pabna, Badalgachhi, Satkhira, Jashore, Chuadanga, Barishal, Srimangal, Sitakunda, Mymensingh, Gopalgonj and Faridpur and it may continue for few days, a met office release said on Monday, reports BSS.

Mild cold wave sweeps over parts of country

PESHAWAR -- Mercury dipped to minus 1 degree Celsius in Peshawar on Saturday as cold wave continued to grip Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Cold wave grips KP

This could be an issue of debate but, in a curious move, statues of Hindu deities in Jharkhand state are being offered hot water and food and have been covered with woollen clothes in a ritual that is believed to ensure the continuing cold wave sweeping across the state does not leave them sick.

Devotees bring warm clothes for Hindu statues as winter hits Jharkhand

The cold, wet weather brought by a northeast monsoon today will intensify well into New Year's Day in Taiwan, due the arrival of a cold wave right after Christmas, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

Cold, wet weather in Taiwan to continue into New Year's Day