Word
tropic
Phoneticstrop·ic
/ˈtɹɑpɪk/
Definitions
01line of latitude
n. one of the two lines around the Earth that are 23.5 degrees north or south of the equator.
n. either of the two parallels of latitude (Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn) representing the farthest points north and south where the sun can be directly overhead.
“The Tropic of Cancer passes through Mexico and several countries in North Africa.”
“Navigators historically relied on the crossing of the tropic as a significant milestone during long-distance maritime voyages toward the equator.”
Usage
Usually capitalized when referring to the specific lines: the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn.
02the tropics
n. the very hot, wet parts of the world between the two tropic lines.
n. the region of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, characterized by a hot climate.
“Many colorful birds live in the deep forests of the tropic.”
“Ecologists are concerned that rising global temperatures are shifting the biological boundaries of the tropic, affecting migratory patterns.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural form 'the tropics' to refer to the geographical region.
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Antonyms
03relating to the tropics
adj. related to the hot, wet areas of the world near the equator.
adj. of, relating to, or occurring in the tropics; a less common variant of 'tropical'.
“The explorer struggled through the thick tropic heat of the jungle.”
“The poet described the tropic air as heavy and fragrant, capturing the stifling atmosphere of the equatorial coast.”
Literary
Teaching tip
In modern English, 'tropical' is the standard adjective; 'tropic' as an adjective is mostly found in older literature or poetry.
Synonyms
04biological/chemical change
adj. describes something that causes a change in a living thing or a chemical.
adj. having the quality of inducing a biological or chemical change in a system or substrate.
“The scientist studied the tropic effects of the hormone on the plant's growth.”
“The research paper detailed the tropic influence of specific enzymes on the metabolic pathways of the bacteria.”
Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Researchers combined satellite wildfire data with maps of more than 9,700 protected areas across the tropics, tracking forest losses between 2001 and 2024.” “The trend is worst in the tropics, even though overall warming is stronger at higher latitudes.” “The tropics receive far more energy from the sun than the poles.” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/tropic