tundra
n. C / Un. a large, flat area of land in very cold parts of the world where the ground is frozen and no trees grow. You find this in the Arctic or on top of high mountains.
n. a vast, treeless plain in Arctic and subarctic regions, characterized by a permanently frozen subsoil and low-growing vegetation such as mosses and lichens.
The arctic tundra is home to many hardy animals.
During the short summer months, the surface of the tundra thaws enough to allow small plants to bloom.
As global temperatures rise, the permafrost beneath the Siberian tundra is beginning to melt, potentially releasing vast quantities of methane into the atmosphere.
Borrowed from Russian ту́ндра (túndra), from Kildin Sami тӯндрэ (tūndre), the accusative and genitive form of тӯндар (tūndar).
Uncountable when referring to the biome in general; countable when discussing specific geographical regions.