Arctic

[ahrk-tik, ahr-tik]

adjective

1. Sometimes arctic of, relating to, or located at or near the North Pole.

   the Arctic region.

2. Sometimes arctic coming from the North Pole or the Arctic region.

   an Arctic wind.

3. Often arctic suitable for use in the Arctic.

   Arctic boots.

4. Usually arctic characteristic of the extremely cold, snowy, windy weather north of the Arctic Circle; frigid; bleak.

   an arctic winter.

5. arctic, extremely cold in manner, atmosphere, etc..

   a look of arctic disdain.

noun

1. the Arctic, the region lying north of the Arctic Circle or of the northernmost limit of tree growth; the polar area north of the timberline.

2. arctics, warm, waterproof overshoes.

arctic

¹

/ ˈɑːktɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Arctic

   arctic temperatures

2. informal,  cold; freezing

   the weather at Christmas was arctic

noun

1. a high waterproof overshoe with buckles

2. (modifier) designed or suitable for conditions of extreme cold

   arctic clothing

Arctic

²

/ ˈɑːktɪk /

noun

1. the regions north of the Arctic Circle

adjective

1. of or relating to the regions north of the Arctic Circle

Arctic

1. Region in the northernmost area of the Earth, centered on the North Pole.

The weather of the Arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

The Arctic has been the object of much exploration by air, land, and sea. The shortest distance by plane between continents in the Northern Hemisphere is often over the Arctic.

Other Word Forms

• arctically adverb
• subarctic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arctic¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikós “northern,” literally, “of the Bear,” equivalent to árkt(os), “bear” ( Ursa Major ) + -ikos -ic; replacing Middle English artik, from Middle French artique, from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arctic¹

C14: from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos northern, literally: pertaining to (the constellation of) the Bear, from arktos bear

Example Sentences

So, if after the Arctic blast we've just experienced this is still autumn, when will we see the official start of winter?

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He proposed joint energy projects in the Arctic, and suggested partnering Russia's sovereign wealth fund with US companies in developing rare earth deposits.

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Thursday’s announcement follows last month’s news that the Interior Department will also open the entire coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing.

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There were memoirs by Arctic explorers, fearless mountaineers, and deep-sea divers who braved the briny deep wearing those newfangled diving costumes.

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Its government was possessed with the desire to find what English geographic experts were certain was a Northwest Passage through the Arctic.

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