Gale vs. Wind — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 15, 2024
A gale is a strong, sustained wind, typically ranging from 34 to 40 knots, used specifically in maritime and weather contexts; wind is a general term for air movement, variable in strength and ubiquitous in nature.
Difference Between Gale and Wind
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Gale refers to very strong winds, specifically classified on the Beaufort scale as ranging from 34 to 40 knots, critical for marine and weather forecasts, whereas wind describes any air movement regardless of its speed or strength.
While gales are significant enough to influence sea conditions and are carefully monitored in weather reporting, wind can vary from a light breeze barely noticeable to strong winds capable of causing damage.
Gales are often associated with warnings in maritime and aviation contexts due to their potential to disrupt activities, on the other hand, winds are a daily factor in weather patterns and are essential for phenomena like pollination and temperature regulation.
The term "gale" is particularly used in safety communications, like gale warnings issued by meteorological agencies to alert about high wind speeds, whereas wind measurements are routinely included in standard weather reports and do not typically carry immediate warnings unless reaching hazardous speeds.
Gales can lead to specific environmental impacts such as high waves, erosion, and loss of power, whereas wind effects are broader, including not only potential damage but also benefits such as dispersal of seeds and cooling effects during hot weather.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A strong wind, typically 34-40 knots on the Beaufort scale
Air in natural motion horizontally
Context of Use
Maritime, weather forecasting
General weather, environment, geography
Speed
Specifically 34-40 knots
Ranges from calm to hurricane force
Associated Warnings
Gale warnings for safety in marine and aviation
Wind advisories or warnings at high speeds
Effects
High waves, erosion, potential damage to structures
Pollination, temperature regulation, potential damage
Compare with Definitions
Gale
Often requires preparation and caution.
Residents were advised to secure outdoor items due to the expected gale.
Wind
Used as a renewable energy source.
The country has invested heavily in wind turbines to harness wind energy.
Gale
A strong wind of 34-40 knots.
The ship's captain braced for the gale forecasted by the weather service.
Wind
Natural air movement across Earth’s surface.
The wind rustled the leaves in the garden.
Gale
Associated with rough sea conditions.
Fishermen avoid going out to sea during a gale.
Wind
Essential for ecological balancing like pollination.
Wind helps in the pollination of many plant species.
Gale
A meteorological term used in marine and aviation.
Gale warnings were issued along the coast due to the approaching storm.
Wind
Influences weather patterns globally.
Wind currents affect weather conditions around the world.
Gale
Can lead to environmental erosion.
The beachfront suffered significant erosion after the overnight gale.
Wind
Can vary in speed from gentle breezes to hurricanes.
The wind picked up speed by the afternoon, signaling a possible storm.
Gale
A gale is a strong wind, typically used as a descriptor in nautical contexts. The U.S. National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots (63–87 km/h, 17.5–24.2 m/s or 39–54 miles/hour) of sustained surface winds.
Wind
Wind is the natural movement of air or other gases relative to a planet's surface. Wind occurs on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hours, to global winds resulting from the difference in absorption of solar energy between the climate zones on Earth.
Gale
A wind with a speed of from 34 to 40 knots (39 to 46 miles per hour; 63 to 74 kilometers per hour), according to the Beaufort scale. Also called fresh gale.
Wind
Moving air, especially a natural and perceptible movement of air parallel to or along the ground.
Gale
A storm at sea.
Wind
A movement of air generated artificially, as by bellows or a fan.
Gale
Often gales A forceful outburst
Gales of laughter.
Wind
The direction from which a movement of air comes
The wind is north-northwest.
Gale
The sweet gale.
Wind
A movement of air coming from one of the four cardinal points of the compass
The four winds.
Gale
To sing; charm; enchant.
Wind
Moving air carrying sound, an odor, or a scent.
Gale
To cry; groan; croak.
Wind
Breath, especially normal or adequate breathing; respiration
Had the wind knocked out of them.
Gale
To talk.
Wind
Gas produced in the stomach or intestines during digestion; flatulence.
Gale
To call.
Wind
The brass and woodwinds sections of a band or orchestra.
Gale
To sing; utter with musical modulations.
Wind
Wind instruments or their players considered as a group.
Gale
(nautical) To sail, or sail fast.
Wind
Woodwinds.
Gale
(meteorology) A very strong wind, more than a breeze, less than a storm; number 7 through to 9 winds on the 12-step Beaufort scale.
It's blowing a gale outside.
Many parts of the boat were damaged in the gale.
Wind
Something that disrupts or destroys
The winds of war.
Gale
An outburst, especially of laughter.
A gale of laughter
Wind
A tendency; a trend
The winds of change.
Gale
A light breeze.
Wind
Information, especially of something concealed; intimation
Trouble will ensue if wind of this scandal gets out.
Gale
A shrub, also called sweet gale or bog myrtle (Myrica gale), that grows on moors and fens.
Wind
Speech or writing empty of meaning; verbiage
His remarks on the subject are nothing but wind.
Gale
(archaic) A periodic payment, such as is made of a rent or annuity.
Gale day - the day on which rent or interest is due.
Wind
Vain self-importance; pomposity
An expert who was full of wind even before becoming famous.
Gale
A strong current of air; a wind between a stiff breeze and a hurricane. The most violent gales are called tempests.
Wind
The act of winding.
Gale
A moderate current of air; a breeze.
A little gale will soon disperse that cloud.
And winds of gentlest gale Arabian odors fannedFrom their soft wings.
Wind
A single turn, twist, or curve.
Gale
A state of excitement, passion, or hilarity.
The ladies, laughing heartily, were fast getting into what, in New England, is sometimes called a gale.
Wind
To expose to free movement of air; ventilate or dry.
Gale
A song or story.
Wind
To detect the smell of; catch a scent of.
Gale
A plant of the genus Myrica, growing in wet places, and strongly resembling the bayberry. The sweet gale (Myrica Gale) is found both in Europe and in America.
Wind
To pursue by following a scent.
Gale
The payment of a rent or annuity.
Wind
To cause to be out of or short of breath.
Gale
To sale, or sail fast.
Wind
To afford a recovery of breath
Stopped to wind and water the horses.
Gale
To sing.
Wind
To wrap (something) around a center or another object once or repeatedly
Wind string around a spool.
Gale
A strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
Wind
To wrap or encircle (an object) in a series of coils; entwine
Wound her injured leg with a bandage.
Wound the waist of the gown with lace and ribbons.
Wind
To go along (a curving or twisting course)
Wind a path through the mountains.
Wind
To proceed on (one's way) with a curving or twisting course.
Wind
To introduce in a disguised or devious manner; insinuate
He wound a plea for money into his letter.
Wind
To turn (a crank, for example) in a series of circular motions.
Wind
To coil the spring of (a mechanism) by turning a stem or cord, for example
Wind a watch.
Wind
To coil (thread, for example), as onto a spool or into a ball.
Wind
To remove or unwind (thread, for example), as from a spool
Wound the line off the reel.
Wind
To lift or haul by means of a windlass or winch
Wind the pail to the top of the well.
Wind
To move in or have a curving or twisting course
A river winding through a valley.
Wind
To move in or have a spiral or circular course
A column of smoke winding into the sky.
Wind
To be coiled or spiraled
The vine wound about the trellis.
Wind
To be twisted or whorled into curved forms.
Wind
To proceed misleadingly or insidiously in discourse or conduct.
Wind
To become wound
A clock that winds with difficulty.
Wind
To blow (a wind instrument).
Wind
To sound by blowing.
Wind
Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air usually caused by convection or differences in air pressure.
The wind blew through her hair as she stood on the deck of the ship.
As they accelerated onto the motorway, the wind tore the plywood off the car's roof-rack.
The winds in Chicago are fierce.
Wind
Air artificially put in motion by any force or action.
The wind of a cannon ball;
The wind of a bellows
Wind
The ability to breathe easily.
After the second lap he was already out of wind.
The fall knocked the wind out of him.
Wind
News of an event, especially by hearsay or gossip. (Used with catch, often in the past tense.)
Steve caught wind of Martha's dalliance with his best friend.
Wind
One of the five basic elements in Indian and Japanese models of the Classical elements.
Wind
Flatus.
Eww. Someone just passed wind.
Wind
Breath modulated by the respiratory and vocal organs, or by an instrument.
Wind
(music) The woodwind section of an orchestra. Occasionally also used to include the brass section.
Wind
A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points, which are often called the "four winds".
Wind
Types of playing-tile in the game of mah-jongg, named after the four winds.
Wind
A disease of sheep, in which the intestines are distended with air, or rather affected with a violent inflammation. It occurs immediately after shearing.
Wind
Mere breath or talk; empty effort; idle words.
Wind
A bird, the dotterel.
Wind
The region of the solar plexus, where a blow may paralyze the diaphragm and cause temporary loss of breath or other injury.
Wind
The act of winding or turning; a turn; a bend; a twist.
Wind
(transitive) To blow air through a wind instrument or horn to make a sound.
Wind
(transitive) To cause (someone) to become breathless, as by a blow to the abdomen, or by physical exertion, running, etc.
The boxer was winded during round two.
Wind
To cause a baby to bring up wind by patting its back after being fed.
Wind
To turn a boat or ship around, so that the wind strikes it on the opposite side.
Wind
(transitive) To expose to the wind; to winnow; to ventilate.
Wind
(transitive) To perceive or follow by scent.
The hounds winded the game.
Wind
(transitive) To rest (a horse, etc.) in order to allow the breath to be recovered; to breathe.
Wind
(transitive) To turn a windmill so that its sails face into the wind.
Wind
(transitive) To turn coils of (a cord or something similar) around something.
To wind thread on a spool or into a ball
Wind
(transitive) To tighten the spring of a clockwork mechanism such as that of a clock.
Please wind that old-fashioned alarm clock.
Wind
(transitive) To entwist; to enfold; to encircle.
Wind
(intransitive) To travel in a way that is not straight.
Vines wind round a pole.
The river winds through the plain.
Wind
(transitive) To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to govern.
Wind
(transitive) To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
Wind
(transitive) To cover or surround with something coiled about.
To wind a rope with twine
Wind
(transitive) To cause to move by exerting a winding force; to haul or hoist, as by a winch.
Wind
To turn (a ship) around, end for end.
Wind
To turn completely, or with repeated turns; especially, to turn about something fixed; to cause to form convolutions about anything; to coil; to twine; to twist; to wreathe; as, to wind thread on a spool or into a ball.
Whether to windThe woodbine round this arbor.
Wind
To entwist; to infold; to encircle.
Sleep, and I will wind thee in arms.
Wind
To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to govern.
In his terms so he would him wind.
Gifts blind the wise, and bribes do pleaseAnd wind all other witnesses.
Were our legislature vested in the prince, he might wind and turn our constitution at his pleasure.
Wind
To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
You have contrived . . . to windYourself into a power tyrannical.
Little arts and dexterities they have to wind in such things into discourse.
Wind
To cover or surround with something coiled about; as, to wind a rope with twine.
Wind
To turn completely or repeatedly; to become coiled about anything; to assume a convolved or spiral form; as, vines wind round a pole.
So swift your judgments turn and wind.
Wind
To have a circular course or direction; to crook; to bend; to meander; as, to wind in and out among trees.
And where the valley winded out below,The murmuring main was heard, and scarcely heard, to flow.
He therefore turned him to the steep and rocky path which . . . winded through the thickets of wild boxwood and other low aromatic shrubs.
Wind
To go to the one side or the other; to move this way and that; to double on one's course; as, a hare pursued turns and winds.
The lowing herd wind lowly o'er the lea.
To wind out, to extricate one's self; to escape.Long struggling underneath are they could windOut of such prison.
Wind
To expose to the wind; to winnow; to ventilate.
Wind
To perceive or follow by the scent; to scent; to nose; as, the hounds winded the game.
Wind
To drive hard, or force to violent exertion, as a horse, so as to render scant of wind; to put out of breath.
Wind
To blow; to sound by blowing; esp., to sound with prolonged and mutually involved notes.
Ye vigorous swains, while youth ferments your blood, . . . Wind the shrill horn.
That blast was winded by the king.
Wind
The act of winding or turning; a turn; a bend; a twist; a winding.
Wind
Air naturally in motion with any degree of velocity; a current of air.
Except wind stands as never it stood,It is an ill wind that turns none to good.
Winds were soft, and woods were green.
Wind
Air artificially put in motion by any force or action; as, the wind of a cannon ball; the wind of a bellows.
Wind
Breath modulated by the respiratory and vocal organs, or by an instrument.
Their instruments were various in their kind,Some for the bow, and some for breathing wind.
Wind
Power of respiration; breath.
If my wind were but long enough to say my prayers, I would repent.
Wind
Air or gas generated in the stomach or bowels; flatulence; as, to be troubled with wind.
Wind
Air impregnated with an odor or scent.
A pack of dogfish had him in the wind.
Wind
A direction from which the wind may blow; a point of the compass; especially, one of the cardinal points, which are often called the four winds.
Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain.
Wind
A disease of sheep, in which the intestines are distended with air, or rather affected with a violent inflammation. It occurs immediately after shearing.
Wind
Mere breath or talk; empty effort; idle words.
Nor think thou with windOf airy threats to awe.
Wind
The dotterel.
Wind
The region of the pit of the stomach, where a blow may paralyze the diaphragm and cause temporary loss of breath or other injury; the mark.
Wind
Air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure;
Trees bent under the fierce winds
When there is no wind, row
The radioactivity was being swept upwards by the air current and out into the atmosphere
Wind
A tendency or force that influences events;
The winds of change
Wind
Breath;
The collision knocked the wind out of him
Wind
Empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk;
That's a lot of wind
Don't give me any of that jazz
Wind
An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job
Wind
A musical instrument in which the sound is produced by an enclosed column of air that is moved by the breath
Wind
A reflex that expels intestinal gas through the anus
Wind
The act of winding or twisting;
He put the key in the old clock and gave it a good wind
Wind
To move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course;
The river winds through the hills
The path meanders through the vineyards
Sometimes, the gout wanders through the entire body
Wind
Extend in curves and turns;
The road winds around the lake
Wind
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Wind
Catch the scent of; get wind of;
The dog nosed out the drugs
Wind
Coil the spring of (some mechanical device) by turning a stem;
Wind your watch
Wind
Form into a wreath
Wind
Raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help;
Hoist the bicycle onto the roof of the car
Common Curiosities
What defines a gale in meteorological terms?
A gale is defined as sustained wind speeds from 34 to 40 knots.
How does wind affect the environment?
Wind plays a crucial role in weather patterns, pollination, and temperature control.
Are gales dangerous?
Yes, gales can pose significant dangers, especially in marine and aviation contexts.
How are gales measured?
Gales are measured using the Beaufort scale based on observed sea conditions and wind speeds.
Why are gale warnings important?
Gale warnings alert to potential hazards that could affect safety in marine and aerial operations.
How do wind patterns influence climate?
Wind patterns play a key role in distributing heat and moisture globally, influencing climate zones.
What are common uses of wind in daily life?
Wind is used for activities like sailing, flying kites, and generating wind energy.
Can wind speeds be too low to be noticeable?
Yes, when wind speeds are very low, they may not be felt and are described as calm.
What precautions should be taken during a gale?
Instantly get off raised areas such as hills, high tops, ridges, or peaks. Never lie flat on the bottom of the ground.
What tools are used to measure wind?
Tools like anemometers and wind vanes are used to measure wind speed and direction.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
