heatwave

Alternative spelling of heat wave (“period of exceptionally hot weather”)

Noun

  1. Alternative spelling of heat wave (“period of exceptionally hot weather”)
    • Various parts of the world have been experiencing heatwaves and on Thursday the EU’s climate monitoring service said the world had experienced its hottest June on record last month. […] In parts of China, an enduring...
    • Both weather agencies forecast temperatures above 40C over the coming days and called for vigilance amid forecasts of “a very intense, even exceptional” heatwave in parts of the continent. - 2025 August 11, Ajit...

    Antonyms: cold spell cold wave

  2. A heat haze.
    • On a hot summer's day, one can literally see heatwaves shimmering off the surfaces of inanimate objects. - 2021, Murray du Plessis, Modern Meditations: 101 Ways to Slow Down & Connect to Spirit:

Origin

Etymology tree English heat English wave English heatwave From heat + wave.

Forms

heatwaves