ENGLISH
REFERENCE

global warming

compound.
B1 Intermediate Oxford

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.


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.

Origin

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”.

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 problemglobal warming is a problemas an uncountable abstract concept, it usually does not require a definite article when used in a general sense.

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