acid rain — precipitation that has become acidic due to air pollution, particularly from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: precipitation that has become acidic due to air pollution, particularly from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈæsɪd reɪn/
Example Sentences
- The statue's nose melted away like ice cream because of acid rain - talk about environmental vandalism!
- Scientists monitor acid rain levels to protect forests and lakes.
- My car's paint job lasted longer than my marriage, but acid rain got them both in the end.
acid rain
NOUN[/ˈæsɪd reɪn/]
precipitation that has become acidic due to air pollution, particularly from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Acid rain falls on the forest, melting leaves and corroding statues overnight.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term 'acid rain' emerged in the mid-19th century as a descriptive compound coined during the Industrial Revolution to explain atmospheric pollution phenomena. It combines the existing words 'acid' (from Latin acidus, meaning sour) and 'rain' (from Proto-Germanic regn-) to describe precipitation chemically altered by airborne pollutants.
Breakdown
acid (from Latin acidus, sour or sharp-tasting) + rain (from Proto-Germanic regn-, water falling from clouds). The compound literally describes rain that has acquired acidic properties through absorption of sulfurous and nitrogenous compounds in the atmosphere.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The statue's nose melted away like ice cream because of acid rain - talk about environmental vandalism!”
“Scientists monitor acid rain levels to protect forests and lakes.”
“My car's paint job lasted longer than my marriage, but acid rain got them both in the end.”
“The government implemented strict emissions controls to reduce acid rain formation.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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