noaa

noaa — noun

1. the U.S. government agency that studies the oceans, the atmosphere, and the clim

1.nounB2
Definition

the U.S. government agency that studies the oceans, the atmosphere, and the climate, and that issues weather forecasts and warnings for storms, floods, and other natural events.

Example

NOAA issued a hurricane warning for the entire Gulf Coast this morning.

subject of 'issue + warning'

The fishing boat captain checked the NOAA weather report before heading out to sea.

Noaa weather report as object

Common collocations
  • NOAA report
  • NOAA forecast
  • NOAA warning
  • NOAA data
  • NOAA satellite
  • NOAA researcher

Grammar Patterns

Noaa as subject or object

Usage Note

Always written in all-caps (NOAA). Often used attributively before a noun (NOAA report, NOAA forecast). Frequently appears in news coverage of hurricanes, climate change, and marine policy.

Common Mistakes

Noaa said the storm is coming.
NOAA said the storm is coming.
The name should always be written in uppercase letters.

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

English

NOAA is an initialism formed from the first letters of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency was created in 1970 under President Richard Nixon by merging several existing government organizations, including the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau. The acronym was chosen to form a pronounceable word.