tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal

for sense 1

ˈträ-pi-kəl 

 for sense 2  ˈtrō-,

 also  ˈträ-

1

a

: of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tropical forests

a tropical disease

b

: of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture

tropical Florida

2

: figurative sense 2

tropically

ˈträ-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈtrō-

adverb

Synonyms

• equatorial
• low

Examples of tropical in a Sentence

wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility

an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Recent Examples on the Web

Founded in 1964, Fania Records became a powerhouse label with a signature sound: the apex of tropical music, combined with big band jazz and American R&B, jazz, funk and soul. —Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024

Thalang bent-toed geckos live in the canopies of tropical forests, the study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024

Its 48 mid-century modern guest rooms surround a tropical courtyard where guests can dine under the shade of a giant palm tree at the wine bar and bistro. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024

Stationed at the turntables was star producer and reggaeton master Tainy, who integrated spells of house and techno into Balvin’s bass-laden tropical medley. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024

This luxurious villa estate is shrouded in tropical foliage, perched above Playa Las Rosadas with views out over the bay islands. —Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024

Earlier this week, Kardashian posted photos on Instagram from her tropical spring break vacation with True. —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

Gaskin doesn’t hesitate to trade her village home for a tropical paradise and brings a production company along for the ride. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

Last year's tropical primary forest loss caused greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to half of U.S. emissions caused by the burning fossil of fuels annually, Weisse said. —Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English tropikal "pertaining to the three circles of the celestial sphere (the two tropics and the equinoctial circle)," from tropik tropic entry 1 + -al -al entry 1; (sense 2) Latin tropicus "pertaining to figures of speech" (borrowed from Greek tropikós, from trópos "figurative expression, trope" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tropical

• tropical aquarium
• tropical cyclone
• tropical fish
• tropical oil
• tropical rainforest
• tropical sprue
• tropical storm

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

tropically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb