Climatological

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌklaɪ.mə.təˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/

Definitions

1. Concerning the scientific observation and interpretation of climate characteristics and their variations over extended periods
2. Involving the study of atmospheric conditions and the assessment of long-term climate trends and their implications
3. Pertaining to the analysis and examination of climate patterns and their long-term shifts

Etymology: Climatological is a plain formation: it is built from "climatology" with the suffix "-ical," which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "relating to" that noun. Climatology itself is the study of climate, and the adjective is the form used when describing things connected with that study, such as a climatological survey or a climatological record. The suffix does most of the work here. It came into English through Old French from Latin "-icus," a Greek-derived adjective ending, and it entered Middle English as "-ic." The form "-ical" appeared in English by adding a second adjectival ending, "-al," from Latin "-alis," which is why many English adjectives carry a doubled suffix such as "-ical" or "-ological." Because the word is a straightforward combination of a noun and suffixes, its meaning follows directly from its parts: anything that relates to climatology is climatological.

Synonyms: meteorological, atmospheric, environmental, climatic