heatwave

noun

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

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 heatwave has continued, with temperatures reaching above 35C.”

   “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.”

2. A heat haze.

   “On a hot summer's day, one can literally see heatwaves shimmering off the surfaces of inanimate objects.”