tropic
- either of two corresponding parallels of latitude on the terrestrial globe, one (tropic of Cancer ) about 23½° N, and the other (tropic of Capricorn ) about 23½° S of the equator, being the boundaries of the Torrid Zone.
- the tropics, the regions lying between and near these parallels of latitude; the Torrid Zone and neighboring regions.
Origin of tropic
OTHER WORDS FROM tropic
non·trop·ic, adjectiveun·trop·ic, adjectiveOther definitions for tropic (2 of 2)
Origin of -tropic
WORDS THAT USE -TROPIC
What does -tropic mean?
The combining form –tropic is used like a suffix for a variety of meanings. It can indicate “turned toward, with an orientation toward” something specified by the first part of the word. This sense of -tropic is especially used in biology and botany.
It can also denote “having an affinity for, affecting” a specified thing or “affecting the activity of, maintaining” an organ. Here, it can be synonymous with -trophic, which you can learn more about at our Words That Use article for the form. This sense of -tropic is especially used in biochemistry and physiology.
Closely related to -tropic is -tropous. The combining forms -tropy and -tropism are used to form abstract nouns from concrete nouns using -tropous and -tropic (and vice versa).
Where does -tropic come from?
The form -tropic comes from the Greek suffix –tropos, meaning “pertaining to a turn.” This suffix is based on trópos, “turn,” and tropḗ, “a turning.”
The Greek trópos is also the source of trope, tropical, and yes, the word tropic itself. It’s your turn to make the connection between “turning,” figures of speech, and the tropics at our entries for the words.
Corresponding forms of -tropic combined to the beginning of words are tropo- and trop-. Discover their specific applications of our Words That Use articles for the forms.
Examples of -tropic
One word you may be familiar with that features the form -tropic is hydrotropic, a biological term characterizing plants that orient their growth in the direction of moisture.
The first part of the word, hydro-, from the Greek hýdōr, means “water.” The second part of the word, -tropic, indicates “turned toward.” So, hydrotropic literally translates to “turned towards water.”
What are some words that use the combining form -tropic?
Break it down!
The combining form thermo- means “heat.” With this in mind, a plant described as thermotropic orients its growth toward what?