ENGLISH
REFERENCE

oceanic

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌoʊʃiˈænɪk// UK //ˌəʊʃɪˈænɪk// ocean·ic

adj. relating to the ocean or something that is as huge and deep as the sea.

adj. relating to or inhabiting the ocean; also used figuratively to describe vastness or immense scale. Often used in scientific contexts to describe currents, crusts, or ecosystems.


SIMPLE

The ship studied the oceanic currents.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers are concerned about how rising temperatures affect oceanic ecosystems and the species that live there.

COMPLEX

The novel's oceanic scope attempts to capture the entire history of the island, moving from the microscopic lives of its inhabitants to the vast movements of global trade.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; when used figuratively, it emphasizes scale or depth.

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