tropic
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
trop·ic 1
(trŏp′ĭk)n.
1. Either of two parallels of latitude on the earth, one 23°26′ north of the equator and the other 23°26′ 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 tropics.
2. Astronomy Either of two corresponding parallels of celestial latitude that are the limits of the apparent northern and southern passages of the sun.
adj.
Of or relating to the tropics; tropical.
[Middle English tropik, from Old French tropique, from Late Latin tropicus, from Latin, of a turn, from Greek tropikos, from tropē, a turning; see trep- in Indo-European roots.]
tro·pic 2
(trō′pĭk)adj.
Relating to or exhibiting tropism.
[From -tropic.]
tro′pi·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
tropic
(ˈtrɒpɪk)n
1. (Physical Geography) (sometimes capital) either of the parallel lines of latitude at about 23°N (tropic of Cancer) and 23°S (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator
2. (Physical Geography) the tropics (often capital) that part of the earth's surface between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn; the Torrid Zone
3. (Astronomy) astronomy either of the two parallel circles on the celestial sphere having the same latitudes and names as the corresponding lines on the earth
adj
(Physical Geography) a less common word for tropical
[C14: from Late Latin tropicus belonging to a turn, from Greek tropikos, from tropos a turn; from the ancient belief that the sun turned back at the solstices]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
trop•ic
(ˈtrɒp ɪk)n.
1.
a. either of two corresponding parallels of latitude on the terrestrial globe, one (tropic of Cancer) about 23½° N, and the other (tropic of Capricorn) about 23½° S of the equator, being the boundaries of the Torrid Zone.
b. the tropics, the regions lying between and near these parallels of latitude; the Torrid Zone and neighboring regions.
2. either of two circles on the celestial sphere, one lying in the same plane as the tropic of Cancer, the other in the same plane as the tropic of Capricorn.
adj. 3. of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tropicus < Greek tropikós pertaining to a turn =tróp(os) turn + -ikos -ic]
-tropic
a combining form with the meanings “turned toward, with an orientation toward” that specified by the initial element (geotropic), “having an affinity for, affecting” what is specified (lipotropic), “affecting the activity of, maintaining” a specified organ (thyrotropic). Compare –trophic
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
trop·ic
(trŏp′ĭk)1. Either of the two parallels of latitude representing the points farthest north and south at which the sun can shine directly overhead. The northern tropic is the Tropic of Cancer, and the southern one is the Tropic of Capricorn.
2. tropics The region of the Earth lying between these latitudes and corresponding to the Torrid Zone. The tropics are generally the warmest and most humid region of the Earth.
tropical adjective
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | tropic - either of two parallels of latitude about 23.5 degrees to the 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 line of latitude, parallel of latitude, parallel, latitude - an imaginary line around the Earth parallel to the equator |
| Adj. | 1. |  tropic - relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator); "tropical islands"; "tropical fruit"equatorial - of or existing at or near the geographic equator; "equatorial Africa" |
| 2. |  tropic - of weather or climate; hot and humid as in the tropics; "tropical weather"hot - used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning; "hot stove"; "hot water"; "a hot August day"; "a hot stuffy room"; "she's hot and tired"; "a hot forehead" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
tropic
adjectiveOf or relating to the Tropics:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مَدار، مِنْطَقَه واقِعَه بين المَدارَيْن
obratník
vendekreds
térítõ
hvarfbaugur
atogrąžaatogrąžosatogrąžųtropikaitropinis
trops
obratník
povratniktropi
回归线回歸線
tropic
[ˈtrɒpɪk] N → trópico mthe tropics → el trópico
the Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn → el Trópico de Cáncer/Capricornio
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
tropic
[ˈtrɒpɪk] n → tropique m
the Tropic of Cancer → le tropique du Cancer
the Tropic of Capricorn → le tropique du Capricorne tropics
the Tropic of Cancer → le tropique du Cancer
the Tropic of Capricorn → le tropique du Capricorne tropics
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
tropic
n
tropics pl → Tropen pl
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
tropic
[ˈtrɒpɪk] n → tropicothe tropics → i tropici
Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn → tropico del Cancro/Capricorno
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
tropic
(ˈtropik) noun either of two imaginary circles running round the earth at about 23 degrees north (Tropic of Cancer) or south (Tropic of Capricorn) of the equator.
ˈtropics noun plural the hot regions between or (loosely) near these lines. The ship is heading for the tropics.
ˈtropical adjective1. of the tropics. The climate there is tropical.
2. growing etc in hot countries. tropical plants.
ˈtropically adverbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.