chinook

/ʃɪˈnʊk/
noun
  1. A warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, especially in winter and spring, often causing rapid snowmelt.
    • The chinook melted the snow on the prairie in just a few hours.
    • Farmers in Montana welcome the chinook because it clears the fields of snow.
    • A sudden chinook raised the temperature from 10°F to 45°F overnight.
  2. A type of large, powerful salmon found in the Pacific Ocean and rivers of western North America, also called king salmon.
    • We grilled fresh chinook for dinner last night.
    • The hatchery releases thousands of young chinook into the river each spring.
    • Chinook salmon are prized by anglers for their size and fighting ability.
  3. A member of a Native American people originally living along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.
    • The Chinook have a rich tradition of storytelling and art.
    • The Chinook were skilled traders and fishermen.
    • Many Chinook today live in Oregon and Washington.
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