Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

subtropical

American  
[suhb-trop-i-kuhl] / sʌbˈtrɒp ɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. bordering on the tropics; nearly tropical.

  2. pertaining to or occurring in a region between tropical and temperate; subtorrid; semitropical.

noun

  1. a subtropical plant.

subtropical British  
/ sʌbˈtrɒpɪkəl /

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
subtropical Scientific  
/ sŭb-trŏp′ĭ-kəl /

  1. Relating to the regions of the Earth bordering on the tropics, just north of the Tropic of Cancer or just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Subtropical regions are the warmest parts of the two Temperate Zones.

Etymology

Origin of subtropical

First recorded in 1835–45; sub- + tropical

Vocabulary lists containing subtropical

East Asia - Middle School

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

East Asia - High School

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Weather and Climate - Middle School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We continue to legitimize the idea that what’s important is European knowledge,” says Kristina Cockle, a Canadian ornithologist at the Institute of Subtropical Biology in Argentina, where she has lived for nearly 20 years.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 8, 2023

Subtropical Storm Nicole formed in the southwestern Atlantic on Monday, becoming the 14th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2022

Subtropical storm Teresa formed Friday north of Bermuda and was weakening and projected to dissipate on Sunday.

From Fox News • Sep. 25, 2021

Subtropical deserts are very dry; evaporation typically exceeds precipitation.

From Textbooks • Sep. 6, 2018

Subtropical beds may give a very desirable temporary finish to places that are pretentious enough to make them seem in keeping.

From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.