prevailing wind

prevailing wind  (pr-vlng)

A wind that blows predominantly from a single general direction. The trade winds of the tropics, which blow from the east throughout the year, are prevailing winds. See illustration at wind.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

prevailing wind - the predominant wind direction; "the prevailing wind is from the southwest" antitrades - wind in the upper atmosphere blowing above but in the opposite direction from the trade winds trade wind, trade - steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator; "they rode the trade winds going west" antitrade, antitrade wind - winds blowing from west to east and lying above the trade winds in the tropics air current, current of air, wind - air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure; "trees bent under the fierce winds"; "when there is no wind, row"; "the radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere"