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tropical

adj. · n.
US //ˈtɹɑpɪkəɫ// UK //tɹˈɒpɪkəl// trop·i·cal
  1. 1 climate and geography (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    coming from or typical of the hottest parts of the world near the equator.

    pertaining to the tropics, the equatorial region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, or characteristic of a hot and humid climate.

    Example

    The island is famous for its beautiful tropical birds and lush green forests.

    Example

    The region's tropical climate is characterized by high humidity and significant rainfall throughout the year, supporting a vast array of biodiversity.
  2. 2 mathematics (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    a special kind of math used in geometry and computer science where you add numbers instead of multiplying them.

    relating to tropical geometry or tropical semirings, where the standard operations of addition and multiplication are replaced by 'minimum' and 'addition'.

    Example

    The researcher used tropical geometry to solve a complex problem in computer science.

    Example

    Tropical geometry provides a powerful framework for translating problems in algebraic geometry into a combinatorial setting using the tropical semiring.

    Usage

    Usually modifies nouns like 'geometry', 'algebra', or 'analysis'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specialized term in discrete mathematics; the name 'tropical' was coined in honor of the Brazilian mathematician Imre Simon.

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  1. 3 figurative language (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Formal

    using words in a way that is not literal, like a metaphor.

    pertaining to or involving tropes; used in a figurative or metaphorical sense rather than a literal one.

    Example

    The poet used tropical language to describe the sunset as a golden crown.

    Example

    The critic argued that the author's tropical style obscured the underlying message of the essay through excessive use of metaphor.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is rarely encountered in modern English outside of 19th-century literature or specialized rhetorical studies.
  2. 4 a plant (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a plant that naturally grows in a hot, wet climate.

    a plant species indigenous to or characteristic of the tropics.

    Example

    The greenhouse was filled with colorful tropicals that couldn't survive the cold winter outside.

    Example

    The botanical garden features a dedicated pavilion for tropicals, maintaining the high temperatures required for the orchids and ferns to thrive.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural when referring to a collection of plants.
    • exotic plant
Origin

From tropic + -al.

Word family

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