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doldrums
doldrums or equatorial belt of calms, area around the earth centered slightly north of the equator between the two belts of trade winds. The large amount of solar radiation that arrives at the earth in this area causes intense heating of the land and ocean. This heating results in the rising of warm, moist air; low air pressure; cloudiness; high humidity; light, variable winds; and various forms of severe weather, such as thunderstorms and squalls. Hurricanes originate in this region. The doldrums are also noted for calms, periods when the winds disappear, trapping sailing vessels for days or weeks. |
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"doldrums." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "doldrums." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-doldrums.html "doldrums." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums, the belt of low pressure that extends 5° to 10° either side of the equator in a region known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The doldrums were notorious in the days of sail, because vessels could become becalmed there for many days and even weeks. This equatorial belt of windlessness and calm is often hot and sultry, so subject to violent thunderstorms and heavy rain. Being in the doldrums has now become synonymous with being listless, depressed, and generally stuck in a rut.
M. V. Angel |
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"doldrums." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "doldrums." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-doldrums.html "doldrums." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
dol·drums / ˈdōldrəmz; ˈdäl-; ˈdôl-/ • pl. n. (the doldrums) low spirits; a feeling of boredom or depression: color catalogs will rid you of February doldrums. ∎ a period of inactivity or a state of stagnation: the mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three years. ∎ an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds. |
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"doldrums." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "doldrums." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-doldrums.html "doldrums." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums the condition of a ship making no headway; a region of calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds near the Equator; in figurative usage, a state or period of little activity or progress in affairs. The word is recorded (as doldrum ‘dull, sluggish person’) from the late 18th century, and may come from dull, on the pattern of tantrums.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "doldrums." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "doldrums." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-doldrums.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "doldrums." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums Region of the ocean near the Equator, characterized by calms, and light and variable winds. It corresponds approximately to a belt of low pressure around the Equator.
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"doldrums." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "doldrums." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-doldrums.html "doldrums." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums The oceanic equatorial zone, which has low pressure and light, variable winds. The zone moves seasonally north and south of the equator.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-doldrums.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums The oceanic equatorial zone, which has low pressure and light, variable winds. The zone moves seasonally north and south of the equator.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-doldrums.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "doldrums." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums XIX. prob. orig. dial. or sl. f. dol DULL.
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T. F. HOAD. "doldrums." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "doldrums." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-doldrums.html T. F. HOAD. "doldrums." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-doldrums.html |
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doldrums
doldrums
•Abrahams • jimjams
•alms, Brahms, man-at-arms
•Thames
•hames, James
•Reims • Sims
•betimes, Grimes, Times
•Maritimes • oftentimes • sometimes
•Toms • telecoms • Cairngorms
•Holmes
•Coombes, Tombs
•Adams • diddums • Helms • doldrums
•Williams • Worms
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"doldrums." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "doldrums." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-doldrums.html "doldrums." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-doldrums.html |
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