tropic

noun trop·ic \ ˈträ-pik \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of tropic

1 : either of the two parallels of terrestrial latitude at a distance of about 23¹/₂ degrees north or south of the equator where the sun is directly overhead when it reaches its most northerly or southerly point in the sky — compare tropic of cancer, tropic of capricorn

2 tropics or Tropics plural : the region lying between the tropics

See tropic defined for English-language learners

See tropic defined for kids

Examples of tropic in a Sentence

a vacation in the tropics

Origin and Etymology of tropic

Middle English tropik, from Latin tropicus of the solstice, from Greek tropikos, from tropē turn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

tropic

adjective

Definition of tropic

: of, relating to, or occurring in the tropics

First Known Use of tropic

1624

in the meaning defined above

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NEW! Time Traveler

tropic

adjective tro·pic \ ˈtrō-pik \

Definition of tropic

1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of tropism or of a tropism

2 of a hormone : influencing the activity of a specified gland

Origin and Etymology of tropic

trop-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1899

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

-tropic

adjective combining form

Definition of -tropic

1 : turning, changing, or tending to turn or change in a (specified) manner or in response to a (specified) stimulus

geotropic

2 : attracted to or acting upon (something specified)

neurotropic

Origin and Etymology of -tropic

French -tropique, from Greek -tropos -tropous

TROPIC Defined for English Language Learners

tropic

noun

Definition of tropic for English Language Learners

: either one of the two imaginary lines that circle the Earth to the north and south of the equator
the tropics : the part of the world that is near the equator where the weather is very warm

TROPIC Defined for Kids

tropic

noun trop·ic \ ˈträ-pik \

Definition of tropic for Students

1 : either of two parallels of the earth's latitude of which one is about 23¹/₂ degrees north of the equator and the other about 23¹/₂ degrees south of the equator

2 tropics plural often capitalized : the region lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn