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

"Cities tend to have milder winters, creating favorable conditions for species that otherwise would only be able to live in hot, tropical climates," explained Winchell.

From Science Daily

Despite wide interest in the global footprint of palm crops, the distribution of coconut palms across tropical Pacific atolls has received little attention.

From Science Daily

Responsible for this are tropical thunderstorms that brew over the rainforest at night.

From Science Daily

Topics such as tropical diseases, threats to democracy, and social inequalities, he points out, often don’t find a place in mainstream international publications.

From Science Magazine

Princeton Chemistry's Seyedsayamdost Lab offers a promising treatment for this neglected tropical disease with a combination of low-dose antibiotics that targets the pathogen but leaves gut microbiome bacteria unscathed.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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