tropic

noun

trop·ic | \ ˈträ-pik

Definition of tropic

(Entry 1 of 4)

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

tropic

adjective (1)

Definition of tropic (Entry 2 of 4)

: of, relating to, or occurring in the tropics

tropic

adjective (2)

tro·pic | \ ˈtrō-pik

Definition of tropic (Entry 3 of 4)

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

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

-tropic

adjective combining form

Definition of -tropic (Entry 4 of 4)

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

Examples of tropic in a Sentence

Noun a vacation in the tropics

History and Etymology for tropic

Noun

Middle English tropik, borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French tropike, tropique, borrowed from Late Latin tropicus (short for tropicus circulus), noun derivative of Latin tropicus "of a solstice or equinox," borrowed from Greek tropikós, from tropḗ "turn, change, solstitial point" (noun derivative from the base of trépein "to turn") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at trope

Adjective (1)

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French tropike, tropique "of the sun's change of direction at the solstice, of either of the two tropics," borrowed from Latin tropicus "of a solstice or equinox" — more at tropic entry 1

Adjective (2)

generalization of -tropic, after German tropisch

Adjective combining form

French -tropique, from Greek -tropos -tropous

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Dictionary Entries Near tropic

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Cite this Entry

“Tropic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tropic. Accessed 16 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for tropic

tropic

noun

English Language Learners Definition of tropic

: either one of the two imaginary lines that circle the Earth to the north and south of the equator

: the part of the world that is near the equator where the weather is very warm

See the full definition for tropic in the English Language Learners Dictionary

tropic

noun

trop·ic | \ ˈträ-pik

Kids Definition of tropic

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

tropic

adjective

tro·pic | \ ˈtrō-pik