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tropic

tro·pic

UK/ˈtɹɒpɪk/ US/ˈtrɑpɪk/ uncommon rare
noun (1) adjective (2)

noun

1.

either of two parallels of latitude about 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator representing the points farthest north and south at which the sun can shine directly overhead and constituting the boundaries of the torrid zone or tropics

adjective

1.

relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)

  • “tropical islands”
  • “tropical fruit”
Synonyms
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2.

of weather or climate; hot and humid as in the tropics

  • “tropical weather”
Synonyms
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Origin

From Late Latin tropicus (“of or pertaining to the solstice, as a noun, one of the tropics”), from Ancient Greek τροπικός (tropikós, “of or pertaining to a turn or change; or the solstice; or a trope or figure; tropic; tropical; etc.”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”).

Phrases

  • Northern Tropic
  • Southern Tropic
  • tropic acid
  • tropic hormone
  • Tropic of Cancer
  • Tropic of Capricorn

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.