galegale /ɡeɪl/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
a severe galeit’s blowing a gale British English (=it’s very windy)► see thesaurus at wind2a gale/gales of laughter a sudden loud sound of laughter: The bar erupted into gales of laughter.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa fierce gale (=a very strong wind)· The tree was blown down during a fierce gale in 1987.a howling gale (=one that makes a lot of noise)· The ship was drifting towards the shore in a howling gale.a severe/strong gale· Severe gales disrupted road and rail travel throughout Britain.gale + NOUNgale force (=a measurement showing that a wind is extremely strong)· The winds had increased to gale force.verbsa gale blows· It was a grey winter’s day with an Atlantic gale blowing.it’s blowing a gale British English (=the wind is blowing very strongly)· It was blowing a gale last night.
WORD ORIGINgale
Origin:
1500-1600 Perhaps from Norwegian galen ‘bad’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A howling gale and torrential rain lashed the windows.
- The fence was blown down in the gale last night.
- The ship sank in the gale.
- Heavy rain driven by gales predicted for last night was forecast to continue for much of today.
- However, the weather may not be so good, and rain and gales are frequent.
- Rain, fog and mist are the acceptable accoutrements of northern gales.
- Ridge, hip and gable tiles are commonly displaced by gales, causing accumulation of debris in gutters, valleys and junctions.
- The autumn and winter gales had already begun.
- Up there to starboard, the Bering Sea whipped by arctic gales into choppy swells.
THESAURUSa strong wind
a very strong wind: · The ship was blown off course in a severe gale.· Howling gales and torrential rain continued throughout the night.
a storm that has very strong fast winds and that moves over water – used about storms in the North Atlantic Ocean: · The hurricane devastated Florida and killed at least 40 people.
a violent tropical storm – used about storms in the Western Pacific Ocean: · A typhoon has hit the Philippines, lifting roofs off houses and uprooting trees.
(also twister American English informal) a violent storm with strong winds that spin very quickly in a circle, often forming a cloud that is narrower at the bottom than the top: · The town was hit by a tornado that damaged several homes.
a violent tropical storm with strong winds that spin in a circle: · A devastating cyclone struck Bangladesh in April that year.· This cyclone was traveling at speeds in excess of 21 miles per hour.
Longman Language Activatorwindy if the weather is windy , there is a lot of wind: · It was a bright windy day in October.· The windy conditions made it difficult to put the tent up.
a moving current of air near the ground: · We walked home through the wind and the rain.the wind blows: · A bitter wind was blowing from the Eastin the wind: · The flags fluttered gently in the wind.strong/high wind: · Strong winds caused damage to many buildings.gust of wind (=when the wind suddenly blows strongly): · A sudden gust of wind blew the paper out of his hand.
a gentle pleasant wind: · A cool breeze blew in off the sea.slight/gentle breeze: · A gentle breeze ruffled her hair.in the breeze: · Her black hair was blowing in the breeze as she waved goodbye to me.
a very strong wind: · The fence was blown down in the gale last night.a howling gale (=a very strong gale): · A howling gale and torrential rain lashed the windows.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives Outside, the weather was blowing a gale.
(=a very strong wind)· The tree was blown down during a fierce gale in 1987.
(=one that makes a lot of noise)· The ship was drifting towards the shore in a howling gale.
· Severe gales disrupted road and rail travel throughout Britain.
gale + NOUN (=a measurement showing that a wind is extremely strong)· The winds had increased to gale force.
verbs· It was a grey winter’s day with an Atlantic gale blowing.
British English (=the wind is blowing very strongly)· It was blowing a gale last night.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Outside, the weather was blowing a gale. (=a lot of loud laughter)· This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.
· A flood warning has been issued for the River Wye in Herefordshire.
(=very strong)· He was buffeted by the gale force winds.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The severe gales in January 1983 were particularly devastating.· A third of the recent records relate to birds found dead or dying inland after severe gales.
NOUN· Frail souls and stronger can be dashed to the ground by gale force winds that blow for days on end.· With the rain came a southerly wind, moderate at first but then steadily increasing until it built to gale force.· As the Sea King hovered in gale force winds, alarms warned of engine trouble.· By midnight the wind had strengthened to gale force, and in the darkness there was high drama.· The superstar's Coral Gables mansion was battered by gale force winds which left windows smashed and wrecked her garden.· It was blowing with gale force right toward Congress and 50 state legislatures.· The wind was increasing to gale force, and fast.· But the wind was from the south, nearly gale force, and there was no holding back.
VERB· The winds of neo-liberalism are blowing a gale through Prague.· It was blowing with gale force right toward Congress and 50 state legislatures.· It was now blowing a near gale into the harbour, churning the once water into a mass of whitecaps.· That night, the weather worsened, the wind blew up a gale, and it poured.· In fact, when the spire was blown down during a gale, early in 1925, it was not replaced.· On the few occasions when the wind was not blowing a gale, the fog descended like a shroud.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a very strong wind: - As the Sea King hovered in gale force winds, alarms warned of engine trouble.
- Near hurricane force winds and free-roaming sheep put paid to early attempts at planting flowers and shrubs.
- Read in studio Hurricane force winds are hampering efforts to save seals caught in the Shetland oil slick.
- The superstar's Coral Gables mansion was battered by gale force winds which left windows smashed and wrecked her garden.
- The tanker, the Braer, crashed into the rocky coast in heavy seas and gale force winds.
- The whole service has taken some five and a half hours in gale force winds and heavy seas.
a severe galeit’s blowing a gale British English (=it’s very windy)► see thesaurus at wind2a gale/gales of laughter a sudden loud sound of laughter: The bar erupted into gales of laughter.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa fierce gale (=a very strong wind)· The tree was blown down during a fierce gale in 1987.a howling gale (=one that makes a lot of noise)· The ship was drifting towards the shore in a howling gale.a severe/strong gale· Severe gales disrupted road and rail travel throughout Britain.gale + NOUNgale force (=a measurement showing that a wind is extremely strong)· The winds had increased to gale force.verbsa gale blows· It was a grey winter’s day with an Atlantic gale blowing.it’s blowing a gale British English (=the wind is blowing very strongly)· It was blowing a gale last night.