winter

Traditionally the fourth of the four seasons, typically regarded as spanning either the period between the winter solstice to the spring equinox, or the months of December, January, and February in temperate and polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the months of June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the time when the sun is lowest in the sky, resulting in short days, and the time of year with the lowest atmospheric temperatures for the region.

How to use

The term 'winter' is commonly used in general and formal contexts to describe the coldest season of the year. A notable grammatical nuance is that 'winter' can be used attributively, as in 'winter sports' or 'winter months', but it is not typically used as a verb. Learners should be cautious not to confuse 'winter' with 'wintry', which describes a weather condition or atmosphere reminiscent of winter.