climate

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The long-term manifestations of weather and other atmospheric conditions in a given area or country, now usually represented by the statistical summary of its weather conditions during a period long enough to ensure that representative values are obtained (generally 30 years).

   “As fruits of hotter countries, transearthed in colder climates, have vigour enough in themselves to be fructuous according to their nature: but, that they are hindered by the chilling nips of the air, and the soil, wherein they are planted.”

   “And the effects from climate change are already extreme.”

2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)The context in general of a particular political, moral, etc., situation.

   “Industries that require a lot of fossil fuels are unlikely to be popular in the current political climate.”

   “In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial.”

   “This isn't the time for militant unionism. If I were at ScotRail, in the current climate I'd trade a pay freeze [sic: pay rise?] for job security.”

3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)An area of the earth's surface between two parallels of latitude.
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)A region of the Earth.

verb

1. (obsolete, poetic)To dwell.

   “The blessed gods / Purge all infection from our air whilst you / Do climate here!”