tropical
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.coming from or typical of the hottest parts of the world near the equator.
adj.pertaining to the tropics, the equatorial region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, or characteristic of a hot and humid climate.
Simple“The island is famous for its beautiful tropical birds and lush green forests.”
In context“The region's tropical climate is characterized by high humidity and significant rainfall throughout the year, supporting a vast array of biodiversity.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.a special kind of math used in geometry and computer science where you add numbers instead of multiplying them.
adj.relating to tropical geometry or tropical semirings, where the standard operations of addition and multiplication are replaced by 'minimum' and 'addition'.
Simple“The researcher used tropical geometry to solve a complex problem in computer science.”
In context“Tropical geometry provides a powerful framework for translating problems in algebraic geometry into a combinatorial setting using the tropical semiring.”
UsageUsually modifies nouns like 'geometry', 'algebra', or 'analysis'.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term in discrete mathematics; the name 'tropical' was coined in honor of the Brazilian mathematician Imre Simon.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.using words in a way that is not literal, like a metaphor.
adj.pertaining to or involving tropes; used in a figurative or metaphorical sense rather than a literal one.
Simple“The poet used tropical language to describe the sunset as a golden crown.”
In context“The critic argued that the author's tropical style obscured the underlying message of the essay through excessive use of metaphor.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rarely encountered in modern English outside of 19th-century literature or specialized rhetorical studies.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a plant that naturally grows in a hot, wet climate.
n.a plant species indigenous to or characteristic of the tropics.
Simple“The greenhouse was filled with colorful tropicals that couldn't survive the cold winter outside.”
In context“The botanical garden features a dedicated pavilion for tropicals, maintaining the high temperatures required for the orchids and ferns to thrive.”
UsageOften used in the plural when referring to a collection of plants.
Synonymsexotic plant
Usage tropical storm
“Our reporter, Apoorva Mandavilli, goes inside a mosquito factory in Brazil, where scientists are producing millions of mosquitoes to fight deadly tropical diseases in a warming world.”
“They live in tropical forests in small family groups and are found across parts of south-east Asia, including Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia.”
From tropic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.