Word
global warming
Definition
compound. the slow increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans caused by pollution.
compound. the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system, primarily attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Examples
“Global warming is causing the ice to melt.”
“Scientists are worried that global warming will lead to more extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves.”
“The international community must collaborate to mitigate the catastrophic effects of global warming by drastically reducing carbon emissions across all industrial sectors.”
Examples
simple
“Global warming is causing the ice to melt.”
contextual
“Scientists are worried that global warming will lead to more extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves.”
complex
“The international community must collaborate to mitigate the catastrophic effects of global warming by drastically reducing carbon emissions across all industrial sectors.”
Usage
Uncountable noun; often used with verbs like 'cause', 'combat', or 'slow down'.
Teaching tip
distinguish this from 'climate change'; while often used interchangeably in casual speech, 'global warming' specifically refers to the temperature rise, whereas 'climate change' includes all resulting side effects.
Pitfall
the global warming is a problem
global warming is a problem
as an uncountable abstract concept, it usually does not require a definite article when used in a general sense.
Etymology
First attested in the 1950s. Came into common use in the mid-1970s with Wallace Smith Broecker's paper “Climatic Change: Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?” and Mikhail Budyko's statement in 1976 that “a global warming up has started”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.