Winter Meaning
Winter Definition & Usage
The coldest season of the year, typically characterized by cold weather, snow, and short daylight hours.
Examples
- "Winter in the northern hemisphere lasts from December to February."
- "She loves winter, especially when it snows."
- "The winter months are harsh in some parts of Canada."
- "I prefer staying indoors during winter because it gets so cold outside."
- "They went skiing in the Alps during the winter holiday season."
A period of coldness or hardship in a person's life, often metaphorical, representing difficulties or challenges.
Examples
- "The company went through a long winter before it started making a profit."
- "After the breakup, he felt like he was going through his own personal winter."
- "Her career has been in the winter phase for years, but she is determined to make a comeback."
- "The country faced a winter of discontent, marked by protests and economic instability."
- "In literature, winter often symbolizes death or a period of suffering."
To endure or experience winter conditions, either literally or metaphorically.
Examples
- "We had to winter in the mountains due to the heavy snow."
- "The soldiers wintered in a makeshift camp, enduring the cold and harsh conditions."
- "She spent a lonely year wintering in the countryside after her family moved away."
- "The birds wintered in a warmer climate to escape the freezing temperatures."
- "He had to winter through a tough financial period before things improved."
Cultural Context
Winter is a season that has great cultural significance across the world, often associated with holidays, festivals, and the challenges of cold weather. In many parts of the world, winter brings communities together for celebrations, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve. In contrast, winter can also represent hardship or isolation, particularly in literature and metaphors. Winter sports like skiing, ice skating, and snowboarding are also popular during this time.
The Long Winter
Story
The Long Winter
It had been a long winter for Eliza. After the sudden loss of her job, she found herself not just in a physical winter, but a personal one too. The days were shorter, the air colder, and her small apartment seemed to get darker with each passing day. She had hoped the winter would pass quickly, but it seemed to stretch on endlessly, as if the world itself was caught in a deep freeze. With Christmas just around the corner, Eliza's loneliness felt more pronounced. Yet, despite the harsh conditions, she knew she had to endure—she had to winter through it. One evening, as she sat by her small kitchen window, watching the snow gently fall, she received a message from her old friend, Mary. 'Let’s take a winter trip together,' the message said. The idea of escaping the city’s icy grip lifted her spirits, but even more, it reminded her that winter, though cold and isolating, was not forever. Soon, the thaw would come, and with it, hope. She knew that while this winter felt long, it was merely a season of her life, and she would soon emerge from it stronger. When Eliza arrived at the cabin they rented in the mountains, the winter landscape was breathtaking. Snow blanketed the ground, creating a serene and almost magical atmosphere. They spent their days skiing down the slopes and their evenings by a roaring fire, laughing and reminiscing about old times. As the days passed, Eliza realized that the winter of her life was slowly changing. She had weathered the hardest parts, and now, she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The long winter had tested her, but it had also given her the opportunity to grow. By the time she returned home, the first signs of spring were already in the air. The world was waking up, and so was she.
