A windbreak is a barrier that blocks or slows down the wind. Farmers often plant rows of tall trees as windbreaks to protect their crops from damaging winds that could knock down plants or dry out the soil. On a windy beach, your family might set up a canvas screen as a windbreak so you can enjoy your picnic without sand blowing into your sandwiches.

Windbreaks work by forcing wind to flow up and over them, creating a calmer zone on the protected side. A thick hedge can serve as a windbreak for a garden. Some buildings act as natural windbreaks for city streets. In cold, windy places, snow fences serve as windbreaks to prevent snow from drifting across roads.

Effective windbreaks don't completely stop the wind (which would just make it swirl over the top) but slow it down gradually. That's why windbreaks made of trees with some space between them often work better than solid walls. When you duck behind a building on a blustery day, you're using it as a windbreak.