風化
解説 Definition
weathering は weather（風雨にさらされて変化する、風化する）の現在分詞・動名詞です。岩石や建物などが雨・風・日光などによって少しずつ傷んだり変化したりすることを表します。
The gradual breaking down, alteration, or deterioration of rock, buildings, and other exposed materials through rain, wind, sunlight, temperature changes, or similar environmental conditions. It may function as a gerund or as the present participle of weather.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
weathering は動詞 weather「風雨にさらされて変化・劣化する」に -ing を付けた現在分詞・動名詞で、weather + ing と綴ります。雨、風、日光、温度変化が石や建物を徐々に変える場面を思い浮かべ、weathering of rock「岩石の風化」と覚えましょう。erosion は物質が運び去られる「侵食」で、風化とは区別します。
Connect weathering with the familiar noun weather. As a verb, weather can mean to be changed or worn by exposure to rain, wind, sunlight, and temperature changes; adding -ing gives the present participle or gerund. Picture the surface of an old stone statue slowly becoming rough and faded beside the sea. Useful phrases include weathering of rock and chemical weathering. Keep it distinct from erosion: weathering breaks down or alters material where it is, while erosion usually involves the removal and transport of that material by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
例文
The old wall is weathering after years of rain and wind.
その古い壁は長年の雨風で風化しています。
Weathering slowly changes the surface of the stone.
風化は石の表面をゆっくり変化させます。
The statue is weathering more quickly because it stands near the sea.
その像は海の近くに立っているため、より早く風化しています。
weathering の類義語・関連語
weathering の語源・成り立ち Etymology
weathering は weather + -ing で、weather は古英語 weder「空・風・嵐」、さらにゲルマン祖語にさかのぼります。もとは「風雨にさらされて傷むこと」で、自然に打たれて形が変わる感覚から「風化」の意味になりました。関連語は weathered、weather-beaten。
Weathering is built from weather and the suffix -ing. Weather comes from Old English weder, referring to the air, sky, wind, storm, or atmospheric conditions, and ultimately from a Germanic source. The verb weather developed the sense of exposing something to atmospheric conditions and, consequently, of becoming worn or altered through that exposure. The -ing form names this ongoing process or describes a material currently undergoing it.
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