Definition of La Niña

< laniferous

lank >

La Niña    (lä nnyä) KEY 

NOUN:

A cooling of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America, occurring periodically every 4 to 12 years and affecting Pacific and other weather patterns.

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ETYMOLOGY:
American Spanish, the girl (to distinguish it from El Niño) : Spanish la, the (from Latin illa; see al-¹ in Indo-European roots) + niña, daughter (from Old Spanish ninna, from Vulgar Latin *nnna)