Climate Change
/ˈklaɪ.mət ˌtʃeɪndʒ/noun
Long-term shifts in Earth’s temperatures and weather patterns, especially those driven by human activity.
Did you know?Ancient Greek klima meant “slope” or “inclination,” because early geographers divided Earth into climate zones according to the Sun’s angle in the sky.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*klei-
“To lean or incline; the ancient root behind the idea of a slope.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
klima
“A slope, inclination, or region of Earth defined by the Sun’s angle.”
2nd Century BCE
Greek
klimata
“Geographical zones or latitudinal regions distinguished by celestial conditions.”
Latin
Latin
clima
“A region of the Earth, especially one characterized by particular weather conditions.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
climat
“A region or tract of land; later, its characteristic weather.”
14th Century
English
climate
“A region’s prevailing weather or atmospheric conditions.”
Modern English
English
climate change
“Long-term alteration of global or regional climate patterns, now strongly associated with human-caused warming.”