stratosphericadj.
/ˌstratəˈsfɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˌstrædəˈsfɪrɪk/, /ˌstrædəˈsfɛrɪk/ 1. Meteorology. Of or relating to the stratosphere; occurring or performed in the stratosphere.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > [adjective] > specific region of
subsolar1845
stratospheric1909
tropospheric1914
ionospheric1933
stratospherical1934
mesospheric1940
magnetospheric1961
protonospheric1965
thermospheric1971
plasmaspheric1974
1909 Nature 3 June 398/1 If Mr. Gold can suggest any other explanation [of atmospheric temperatures] to those who are sound in the stratospheric faith, I should be much interested to know what it is.
1945 Washington Post 10 Oct. 1/3 Development of even greater bombers capable of operating at stratospheric altitudes..is a certainty.
1980 Nature 27 Nov. 347/2 The stratospheric CO2 mixing ratio is not constant with height but rather decreases with increasing height.
2015 Science 20 Feb. 821/1 The stratosphere suddenly warms, and the stratospheric polar vortex—the mass of cold air that is normally confined to the Arctic—breaks down.
2. figurative. colloquial. Extremely high, from a very elevated point of view, rarefied; esp. (of a price or cost) exorbitant. Cf. astronomical adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > vast, immense, or huge
un-i-fohOE
ormeteOE
hugea1275
un-i-feiec1275
infinitec1385
ponderousa1400
hugeful1413
hugyc1420
thrice1470
felon?a1500
hugeousa1529
enormous1544
enormc1560
fell1586
prodigious1601
immensive1604
colossic1607
monumental1632
vast1637
unfathomed1659
colossal1664
ponderose1680
heroic1785
colossian1794
pyramidal1849
astronomical1871
astronomic1923
stratospheric1932
cosmic1935
ginormous1942
galactic1960
mega1968
humongous1970
1932 Sunday Gaz. (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 3 Jan. 1/2 The Tigers might even descend a bit from the stratospheric top of the Mississippi Valley prep conference.
1966 Economist 19 Nov. 778/1 It might at least consider supporting stratospheric French suggestions for so-called ‘solving of the key currency problem’ by the admitted archaism of raising the world price of gold.
1980 Jewish Chron. 29 Feb. 17/3 Stratospheric admission prices for a suburban commercial venture.
2008 Daily Tel. 30 Jan. 29/2 In silver sequinned hot pants, stratospheric heels and poker-straight hair extensions.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1909