oceanic

[ oh-shee-an-ik ]

adjective

1. of, living in, or produced by the ocean:

   oceanic currents.

2. Oceanography. of or relating to the region of water lying above the bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones of the sea bottom. Compare neritic, pelagic.
3. immensely large; vast:

   an oceanic expanse of stars.

4. (initial capital letter) of or relating to Oceania, its peoples, or their languages.

oceanic

¹

/ ˌəʊʃɪˈænɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the ocean
2. living in the depths of the ocean beyond the continental shelf at a depth exceeding 200 metres

   oceanic fauna

3. huge or overwhelming
4. (of geological formations) of volcanic origin, arising from the ocean

   oceanic islands

Oceanic

²

/ ˌəʊʃɪˈænɪk /

noun

1. a branch, group, or subfamily of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages, comprising Polynesian and Melanesian

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to this group of languages
2. of or relating to Oceania

oceanic

/ ō′shē-ăn′ĭk /

1. Relating to the ocean.
2. Relating to the ocean waters that lie beyond the continental shelf and exceed 200 m (656 ft) in depth.
3. Compare neriticSee more at epipelagic zone

Other Words From

• preo·ce·anic adjective
• uno·ce·anic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oceanic¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin ōceanicus, equivalent to Latin ōcean(us) + -icus adjective suffix; ocean, -ic

Example Sentences

The age of the specimen also means it acts like a window into the history into oceanic conditions in the past.

From BBC

“If the least you can do is stay inside and close all your windows and doors, that will substantially reduce your exposure,” said Suzanne Paulson, a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at UCLA.

From Los Angeles Times

On Paramount’s standard tour, you’ll learn how Alfred Hitchcock nearly destroyed a soundstage to film “Rear Window,” and glimpse the lot’s expansive “blue sky tank,” which can create oceanic illusions.

From Los Angeles Times

Then it was overhead, and I was spiraling, traversing oceanic crests only to arrive inside an underwater forest.

From Los Angeles Times

These filaments also had earthly analogs, and Siegelman used Juno's detailed imagery to study whether this similarity to our planet's oceanic and atmospheric processes was merely skin deep.

From Science Daily