tropical

American  

[trop-i-kuhl, troh-pi-kuhl] / ˈtrɒp ɪ kəl, ˈtroʊ pɪ kəl /

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, occurring in, or inhabiting the tropics, especially the humid tropics.

   tropical flowers.

2. very hot and humid.

   a tropical climate.

3. designed for use in the tropics or in very hot weather (often used in combination).

   tropical-weight woolens.

4. of or relating to either or both of the astronomical tropics.

5. pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a trope or tropes; metaphorical.

---

noun

1. tropicals, lightweight clothing, suitable for warm, especially summer weather.

tropical British  

/ ˈtrɒpɪkəl /

adjective

1. situated in, used in, characteristic of, or relating to the tropics

2. (of weather) very hot, esp when humid

3. rhetoric of or relating to a trope

---

Other Word Forms

• hypertropical adjective
• nontropical adjective
• nontropically adverb
• tropicality noun
• tropically adverb
• untropical adjective
• untropically adverb

Etymology

Origin of tropical

First recorded in 1520–30; tropic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“In summary, as part of heart-healthy dietary patterns, nontropical plant sources of fat should be used as part of food preparation in place of animal fats and tropical oils.”

From Los Angeles Times

The nation of tropical islands in the Indian Ocean is asserting sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and is threatening international legal action to press its claim.

From BBC

Kirkland’s variety packs include tropical, peach and orange, Celsius’s most popular flavors.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It fuels tropical and subtropical storms and exacerbates ongoing sea-ice loss in the polar regions."

From Barron's

“Even for a tropical area, that is a tremendous amount of rain,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• equatorial
• hot
• lush
• steamy
• sultry
• sweltering