warming
n. uncountablen. a slow rise in the temperature of something, like the air or the ocean. You usually hear this when people talk about the planet getting hotter.
n. an increase in temperature, especially the gradual rise in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Often used in compound nouns or as a gerundial noun describing climatic shifts.
Global warming is a major concern for scientists today.
The rapid warming of the Arctic is causing sea levels to rise and threatening local wildlife.
Climate models suggest that even a slight warming of the deep ocean could destabilize methane hydrates, potentially triggering a feedback loop of further atmospheric heating.
From Middle English warmyng, warmynge, from Old English wærming, wirming, equivalent to warm + -ing.
From Middle English warminge, warmynge, from Old English wærmiġende, wermende, wyrmende, present participle of Old English wyrman, wirman (“to warm”), equivalent to warm + -ing.