winter chill

USAGE SUMMARY

"winter chill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the feeling of cold temperature that comes with winter. For example, "The winter chill was in the air as I walked down the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When using the Chilling Hours Model to quantify winter chill, chilling losses were most severe in the SSacV, which lost 51% (B1 scenario), 61% (A1B) and 67% (A2) compared to 1950 winter chill.

Plosone

We then introduced and mapped a novel climatic statistic, "safe winter chill", the 10% quantile of the resulting chilling distributions.

Plosone

Winter chill declined substantially for all emissions scenarios, with the area of safe winter chill for many tree species or cultivars decreasing 50 75% by mid-21st century, and 90 100% by late century.

Plosone

Winter warming significantly reduced fruit yield the following summer in both cultivars, corroborating the hypothesis that a decline in winter chill may decrease reproductive effort in blackcurrant.

AoB PLANTS

This was not the standard winter chill.

The New York Times

Hardier souls might brave the winter chill with sandals.

The New York Times

As the winter chill sets in, get your wardrobe prepared with some new knitwear.

Independent

Now, just before midnight, as your correspondent climbs aboard, a winter chill hangs over the station.

The Economist

In the winter chill, groups of men, mostly unemployed, reinforced one another's indignation.

The New York Times

But we wanted to trade the winter chill of Britain for sun, sea and sandcastles.

The Guardian - Travel

The waterfront was crowded when those frantic whistle blasts cut suddenly through the winter chill.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the effects of cold weather on plants or crops, use "winter chill" to refer to the accumulated hours of cold needed for proper dormancy and subsequent growth.

Common error

Avoid using "winter chill" interchangeably with general coldness in scientific writing. While it can generally refer to the cold of winter, in specific agricultural or climate contexts, it refers to a measured period of cold necessary for plant development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "winter chill" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or object in a sentence. It describes the coldness associated with the winter season. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "winter chill" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the coldness of winter. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English to evoke the feeling of cold temperature. While frequently used in general contexts by News & Media, "winter chill" takes on a more technical meaning in Science and Academia, where it refers to the accumulated hours of cold crucial for the dormancy of certain plants. Depending on the context, the phrase can range from neutral to formal. Be mindful of this distinction, especially when using it in scientific or agricultural writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chilling temperatures

Focuses on the temperature's ability to make one feel cold.

bitter cold

Conveys the intensity and unpleasantness of the cold weather.

frigid air

Focuses on the air itself being extremely cold.

freezing temperatures

Emphasizes the degree of cold, specifically temperatures at or below the freezing point.

frosty air

Describes the air as being cold enough to produce frost.

cold snap

Refers to a sudden period of cold weather, emphasizing the abruptness of the temperature drop.

the deep freeze

Suggests an extended period of very cold temperatures.

icy conditions

Highlights the presence of ice due to cold weather, focusing on the resulting environment.

below-zero weather

Specific to temperatures below zero degrees (usually Fahrenheit or Celsius).

winter's cold embrace

A more poetic and figurative way of describing the coldness of winter.

FAQs

How is "winter chill" measured in agricultural contexts?

"Winter chill" is typically measured in chilling hours, which are the cumulative number of hours between 0 and 7 degrees Celsius during the dormant season. Different plants have different chilling requirements.

What are the consequences of insufficient "winter chill" for fruit crops?

Insufficient "winter chill" can lead to poor bud break, uneven blooming, and reduced fruit yield in many tree crops. This can significantly impact agricultural productivity.

How does climate change affect "winter chill"?

Climate change is causing a decline in "winter chill" in many regions, as rising temperatures reduce the number of hours cold enough to meet the chilling requirements of various crops. This poses a threat to the sustainability of farming operations.

What can I say instead of "winter chill" when describing cold weather generally?

For general cold weather, you can use alternatives like "cold snap", "bitter cold", or "freezing temperatures" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.