New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
bellwether — bell‧weth‧er [ˈbelˌweDə ǁ ər] noun [countable] FINANCE a type of stock, share etc whose price is thought to show the probable future direction of the market as a whole: • He periodically checks on a few properties chosen as bellwethers to see if… … Financial and business terms
Bellwether — Bell weth er, n. 1. A wether, or sheep, which leads the flock, with a bell on his neck. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: A leader. [Contemptuous] Swift. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bellwether — (n.) mid 14c. (late 13c. in Anglo Latin; late 12c. as a surname), from BELL (Cf. bell) (n.) + WETHER (Cf. wether); the lead sheep (on whose neck a bell was hung) of a domesticated flock. Figurative sense of chief, leader is from mid 14c … Etymology dictionary
bellwether — [bel′weth΄ər] n. [ME: see BELL1 & WETHER] 1. a male sheep, usually wearing a bell, that leads the flock 2. a leader, esp. of a sheeplike crowd 3. anything suggesting the general tendency or direction of events, style, etc … English World dictionary
Bellwether — A bellwether is any entity in a given arena that serves to create or influence trends or to presage future happenings. The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a… … Wikipedia
Bellwether — An event or indicator that shows the possible presence of a trend. The performance of certain companies/stocks and bonds are considered by analysts to indicate the condition of the economy and financial markets because their performance is well… … Investment dictionary
bellwether — [[t]be̱lweðə(r)[/t]] bellwethers N COUNT: usu sing, oft N n If you describe something as a bellwether, you mean that it is an indication of the way a situation is changing. [mainly AM, JOURNALISM] If interest in apartments remains high, it could… … English dictionary
bellwether — UK [ˈbelweðə(r)] / US [ˈbelˌweðər] noun [countable] Word forms bellwether : singular bellwether plural bellwethers something that is considered to be a sign of what is likely to happen The performance of the banking sector is a good bellwether of … English dictionary
bellwether — Not weather. Wether is an Old English word for a castrated sheep. A bellwether is a sheep that has a bell hung from its neck, by which means it leads the herd from one pasture to another. In general use, it signifies something that leads or… … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
bellwether — Not weather. Wether is an Old English word for a castrated sheep. A bellwether is a sheep that has a bell hung from its neck, by which means it leads the flock from one pasture to another. In general use, it signifies something that leads or… … Dictionary of troublesome word
bellwether — /bel wedh euhr/, n. 1. a wether or other male sheep that leads the flock, usually bearing a bell. 2. a person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront, as of a profession or industry: Paris is a bellwether of the fashion industry. 3. a… … Universalium
