Spanish word for “breeze,” usually applied to northeasterly winds blowing off the sea. It has a number of specific applications: 1) On the east coast of Brazil and in Venezuela, it refers to the northeast trade wind; 2) at Montevideo, Uruguay, it is a strong breeze, possibly a sea breeze; 3) in the Philippines, it refers to the northeast monsoon; 4) in northern Puerto Rico, brisa is the northeast trade wind deflected to the east by the east–west mountain ridge; and 5) in Colombia, South America, it is a light, damp breeze. Brisa is also used to denote either or both components of a land and sea breeze system. Compare brisote.