tropic
TRO-pihk
Tropic (noun) means Either of the two lines of latitude, north or south of the equator, marking the edge of the tropical zone (Tropic of Cancer / Tropic of Capricorn). Example: “The ship crossed the Tropic of Cancer on its way south.”
noun
1
Either of the two lines of latitude, north or south of the equator, marking the edge of the tropical zone (Tropic of Cancer / Tropic of Capricorn).
"The ship crossed the Tropic of Cancer on its way south."
adjective
1
Relating to the tropics; tropical.
"The plant thrives in a tropic climate."
How to use tropic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the two latitude lines bounding the hot equatorial zone, or an adjective meaning the same as "tropical."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- tropics
- Comparative
- more tropic
- Superlative
- most tropic
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The ship crossed the _____ of Cancer on its way south.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek tropikos, "of the solstice or a turning point," from tropē ("turn").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for tropic
See all rhymes for tropic →Frequently asked questions
What does “tropic” mean?
The word “tropic” means either of the two lines of latitude, north or south of the equator, marking the edge of the tropical zone (Tropic of Cancer / Tropic of Capricorn). In plain terms, one of the two latitude lines bounding the hot equatorial zone, or an adjective meaning the same as "tropical.".
How do you pronounce “tropic”?
“Tropic” is pronounced TRO-pihk (/ˈtɹɒpɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “tropic” in a sentence?
Here is “tropic” used in a sentence: “The ship crossed the Tropic of Cancer on its way south.”
What part of speech is “tropic”?
Depending on how it is used, “tropic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “tropic” come from?
The word “tropic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek tropikos, "of the solstice or a turning point," from tropē ("turn").
How many meanings does “tropic” have?
“Tropic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: either of the two lines of latitude, north or south of the equator, marking the edge of the tropical zone (Tropic of Cancer / Tropic of Capricorn).
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