Antarctica

American  

[ant-ahrk-ti-kuh, -ahr-ti-] / æntˈɑrk tɪ kə, -ˈɑr tɪ- /

noun

1. the continent surrounding the South Pole: almost entirely covered by an ice sheet. About 5,000,000 sq. mi. (12,950,000 sq. km).

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Antarctica British  

/ æntˈɑːktɪkə /

noun

1. a continent around the South Pole: consists of an ice-covered plateau, 1800–3000 m (6000 ft to 10 000 ft) above sea level, and mountain ranges rising to 4500 m (15 000 ft) with some volcanic peaks; average temperatures all below freezing and human settlement is confined to research stations. All political claims to the mainland are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959

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Antarctica Cultural  

1. Continent surrounding the South Pole, located almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle. It is covered by an ice cap up to thirteen thousand feet thick.

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Antarctica is characterized by extremely low temperatures.

In 1911, Roald Amundsen became the first explorer to reach the South Pole, followed shortly thereafter by Robert Scott.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Antarctica

"Our findings reveal that the Earth's interior preconditions landscapes to glaciation, determining when and where major climate transitions like the glaciation of Antarctica become possible," explained Prof Gernon.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

The simulations indicate that by about 45 million years ago, large parts of East Antarctica had climbed above the critical elevation, about 2 km, required for mountain glaciers to develop and expand.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

One researcher tells Ms. Rush how much he’ll miss Antarctica after the expedition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

An Australian aviation crew has carried out a daring midwinter mission to rescue a US expedition member from a station in Antarctica in freezing temperatures and total darkness.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

But this is the story of explorer Ernest Shackleton, and his twenty-seven men who survive years in Antarctica after their ship is crushed by ice, and she can’t help but get swept up into it.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti