tropical

[ trop-i-kuhl troh-pi-kuhl ]

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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈtropically, adverb
• ˌtropiˈcality, noun

Other Words From

• tropi·cali·ty noun
• tropi·cal·ly adverb
• hyper·tropi·cal adjective
• non·tropi·cal adjective
• non·tropi·cal·ly adverb
• un·tropi·cal adjective
• un·tropi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropical¹

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

Example Sentences

The message applies to most tipping points, said Kooloth, whether they involve tropical coral reefs or frigid sea ice.

From Science Daily

And most seagrass is found in tropical waters, which contain an abundance of carbonate, the compound in coral and mussel shells.

From Science Magazine

Costa Rica, which produces half of all the pineapples traded on the planet as well as other tropical fruit, now uses more pesticides per hectare of agricultural land than any other country.

From Science Magazine

The sediment showed a strong tropical forest dominance during that period and no evidence of crop cultivation, specifically maize.

From Science Daily

Due to the generally low and unstable productivity of fruits in Borneo's tropical forests compared to Sumatra Island, fruits alone may not be the sole source of food for all four civet species.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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