What does "chinook" mean?
The descending, warm, dry wind on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains that generally blows from the southwest and can rapidly increase the temperature due to the much warmer air it brings.
Chinook
/ʃɪˈnʊk/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The descending, warm, dry wind on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains that generally blows from the southwest and can rapidly increase the temperature due to the much warmer air it brings.
- Grammar: chinook is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: chinookan, king salmon, oncorhynchus tshawytscha, chinook language.
- Useful contrasts: cool wind, humid air, humid wind.
- Usage evidence: In 1992, Marion Tinsley (1927-1995), the seemingly unbeatable World Checker Champion, defended his title against the computer program CHINOOK, in a series of games, of which he won 4, lost 2, and drew 33. This was the first time ever that a human world champion defended his title against a computer.
How to use "chinook"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "chinook" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "chinook" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "chinook" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "chinook" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "chinook" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chinookan" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "chinook", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The descending, warm, dry wind on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains that generally blows from the southwest and can rapidly increase the temperature due to the much warmer air it brings. Canada, US
- 2 A member of a Native American people whose traditional tribal grounds were along the lower and middle Columbia River.
"The Chinook sent a hunting party to the south."
- 3 large Pacific salmon valued as food; adults die after spawning wordnet
- 4 The chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).
- 5 Alternative letter-case form of chinook alt-of
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a Penutian language spoken by the Chinook wordnet
- 7 pink or white flesh of large Pacific salmon wordnet
- 8 a member of an important North American Indian people who controlled the mouth of the Columbia river; they were organized into settlements rather than tribes wordnet
- 9 a warm dry wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rockies wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A Native American language of the Penutian family of Oregon and Washington.
- 2 Chinook Jargon, a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest composed primarily of words from Chinook proper, English, and French, with some borrowings from other languages.
"The Missionary's address rolled on in choppy Chinook, undertoned by a gentle voice from the back of the room which told Tanook in pure Indian words what he was to do."
- 3 A city, the county seat of Blaine County, Montana, United States.
- 4 The Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
cool windhumid airhumid windmoist wind
Example
"In 1992, Marion Tinsley (1927-1995), the seemingly unbeatable World Checker Champion, defended his title against the computer program CHINOOK, in a series of games, of which he won 4, lost 2, and drew 33. This was the first time ever that a human world champion defended his title against a computer."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "chinook"?
Common synonyms include: chinookan, king salmon, oncorhynchus tshawytscha, chinook language, chinook pidgin, chinook salmon.
How do you use "chinook" in a sentence?
In 1992, Marion Tinsley (1927-1995), the seemingly unbeatable World Checker Champion, defended his title against the computer program CHINOOK, in a series of games, of which he won 4, lost 2, and drew 33. This was the first time ever that a human world champion defended his title against a computer.
How do you pronounce "chinook"?
Pronounced /ʃɪˈnʊk/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Lower Chehalis c̓inúk (“the name of a Chinook village on the Columbia River”).
Etymology 2
From Lower Chehalis c̓inúk (the name of a Chinook village on the Columbia river).