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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
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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
First Known Use of tropic
1624
Origin and Etymology of tropic
trop-
-tropic
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
playDefinition of tropic for English Language Learners
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: either one of the two imaginary lines that circle the Earth to the north and south of the equator
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the tropics : the part of the world that is near the equator where the weather is very warm
TROPIC Defined for Kids
tropic
playDefinition 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 cap : the region lying between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about tropic
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See words that rhyme with tropic Spanish Central: Translation of tropic Nglish: Translation of tropic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tropic for Arabic speakers
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