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gust

Nautical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A brief, strong rush of wind, less violent and sustained than a squall, but capable of startling the sails.

Detailed Definition
The gust is the wind's sudden exclamation, a sharp pulse that fills the canvas and heels the ship over. In poetry, it symbolizes caprice, the unpredictable nudge of fortune, and the fleeting intensity of inspiration or passion. Unlike a steady breeze, a gust demands immediate adjustment—a sailor's reflex that mirrors the poet's responsiveness to sudden ideas. Poets use gusts to evoke the moment of surprise, the stirring of dormant energy, and the way a small, quick breath of change can alter a whole course. Its transient nature also reminds us that such forces are seldom lasting.
Example
Example in poetry:
The gust in poetry symbolizes caprice, the unpredictable nudge of fortune, and the fleeting intensity of inspiration or passion.; Unlike a steady breeze, a gust demands immediate adjustment—a sailor’s reflex that mirrors the poet’s responsiveness to sudden ideas.; Poets use gusts to evoke the moment of surprise, the stirring of dormant energy.; A gust can fill the canvas and heel the ship over, representing a sudden change in fortune.; Its transient nature reminds us that such forces are seldom lasting.; The gust is the wind’s sudden exclamation, a sharp pulse that alters a whole course.
Additional Notes
A gust is a brief, powerful rush of wind that startles the sails and heels the ship over. In poetry, it symbolizes caprice, the unpredictable nudge of fortune, and the fleeting intensity of inspiration, passion, or sudden change. Unlike a steady breeze, a gust demands immediate, intuitive adjustment, making it a metaphor for the poet's responsiveness to sudden ideas or the sailor's quick reflexes. Poets use gusts to evoke the moment of surprise, the stirring of dormant energy, and the way a small, transient shift in force can suddenly and completely alter a course. Its transient nature also reminds us that such energies are seldom lasting, making it a symbol of brief but intense moments of clarity or chaos.
Also Known As
Blast puff squall (smaller) flurry
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