Altaic

[ al-tey-ik ]

noun

1. the Turkic, Mongolian, and Tungusic language families collectively, spoken over a broad expanse of Eurasia, from southeastern Europe to the Pacific: variously considered to be a single, genetically related family, with Japanese and Korean sometimes also included, or a group of languages with shared typologies and histories, but not genetically akin.

adjective

1. of or belonging to Altaic.
2. of or relating to the Altai Mountains.

Altaic

/ ælˈteɪɪk /

noun

1. a postulated family of languages of Asia and SE Europe, consisting of the Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic branches, and perhaps also Japanese, Korean, and Ainu See also Ural-Altaic

adjective

1. denoting, belonging to, or relating to this linguistic family or its speakers

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altaic¹

First recorded in 1825–35; Alta(i) + -ic

Example Sentences

The Transeurasian languages, sometimes known as Altaic, include the languages of Siberia, Mongolia, Central Asia, and possibly Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

From Science Magazine

Korean is also often considered to be an isolated member of this family, and within the family Japanese and Korean may be more related to each other than to other Altaic languages.

From Literature

In Asia it occurs on the Caucasus and Ural, and in some parts of the Altaic chain.

From Project Gutenberg

The southern portion of the Altaic mountains has long been inhabited by the Bashkirs, a race considerably mixed with Mongolic blood, savage and ignorant, subjects of Russia, and Mohammedans by faith.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, what is specially known to us as the deluge has been claimed as an ancient Altaic myth.

From Project Gutenberg