tropic

tropic
tropic late 14c., "either of the two circles in the celestial sphere which describe the northernmost and southernmost points of the ecliptic," from L.L. tropicus "of or pertaining to the solstice" (as a noun, "one of the tropics"), from L. tropicus "pertaining to a turn," from Gk. tropikos "of or pertaining to a turn or change, or to the solstice" (as a noun, "the solstice"), from trope "a turning" (see TROPE (Cf. 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 these parallels" is from 1837. Tropical "hot and lush like the climate of the tropics" is first attested 1834.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • tropic — [träp′ik] n. [ME tropik < LL tropicus < Gr tropikos, belonging to a turn (of the sun at the solstices) < tropē: see TROPE] 1. Astron. either of two circles of the celestial sphere parallel to the celestial equator, one, the Tropic of… …   English World dictionary

  • Tropic — Trop ic, n. [F. tropique, L. tropicus of or belonging to a turn, i. e., of the sun, Gr. ? of the solstice, ? (sc. ?) the tropic or solstice, fr. ? to turn. See {Trope}.] 1. (Astron.) One of the two small circles of the celestial sphere, situated… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tropic — Pueblo de los Estados Unidos …   Wikipedia Español

  • Tropic — Trop ic, a. Of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical. [1913 Webster] {Tropic bird} (Zo[ o]l.), any one of three species of oceanic belonging to the genus {Pha[ e]thon}, found chiefly in tropical seas. They are mostly white, and have two central… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tropic — Tropic, UT U.S. town in Utah Population (2000): 508 Housing Units (2000): 206 Land area (2000): 8.380698 sq. miles (21.705908 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.021682 sq. miles (0.056155 sq. km) Total area (2000): 8.402380 sq. miles (21.762063 sq. km) …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Tropic, UT — U.S. town in Utah Population (2000): 508 Housing Units (2000): 206 Land area (2000): 8.380698 sq. miles (21.705908 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.021682 sq. miles (0.056155 sq. km) Total area (2000): 8.402380 sq. miles (21.762063 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • tropic — ► NOUN 1) the parallel of latitude 23°26 north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator. 2) (the tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 3) Astronomy each of two corresponding circles on the… …   English terms dictionary

  • Tropic — Trop ic, a. [Atropine + ic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from atropine and certain other alkaloids, as a white crystalline substance slightly soluble in water. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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