tropic
pronunciation
How to pronounce tropic in British English:
UK [ˈtrɒpɪk]
How to pronounce tropic in American English:
US [ˈtrɑːpɪk]
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- Noun:
- either of two parallels of latitude about 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator representing the points farthest north and south at which the sun can shine directly overhead and constituting the boundaries of the torrid zone or tropics
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- Adjective:
- relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
- of weather or climate; hot and humid as in the tropics
Word Origin
- tropic
- tropic: [14] The etymological notion underlying the word tropic is of ‘turning’, and the reason for its application to the hot regions of the world is that the two lines of latitude which bound them (the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn) mark the points at which the sun reaches its zenith at the solstices and then ‘turns’ back. The word comes via Latin tropicus from Greek tropikós, a derivative of tropé ‘turning’ (source also of English trophy and related to the second syllable of contrive).=> contrive, trophy, troubadour
- tropic (n.)
- late 14c., "either of the two circles in the celestial sphere which describe the northernmost and southernmost points of the ecliptic," from Late Latin tropicus "of or pertaining to the solstice" (as a noun, "one of the tropics"), from Latin tropicus "pertaining to a turn," from Greek tropikos "of or pertaining to a turn or change; of or pertaining to the solstice" (as a noun, "the solstice," short for tropikos kyklos), from trope "a turning" (see trope). The notion is of the point at which the sun "turns back" after reaching its northernmost or southernmost point in the sky. Extended 1520s to the corresponding latitudes on the earth's surface (23 degrees 28 minutes north and south); meaning "region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn" is from 1837.
Example
- 1. The tropic sun glared down on us all day .
- 2. Between the antarctic circle and the tropic of capricorn .
- 3. There are only five mark towers on the tropic of cancer and all of them are in china .
- 4. After visiting the amis tribe , don 't forget to take a photo at the monument of tropic of cance .
- 5. Shantou , a " green gem " on the tropic of cancer , is most suitable for living , tourism and vacation .