boreal
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the north wind.
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of or relating to the north.
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(sometimes initial capital letter) pertaining to Boreas.
adjective
adjective
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of or denoting the coniferous forests in the north of the N hemisphere
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designating a climatic zone having snowy winters and short summers
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designating a dry climatic period from about 7500 to 5500 bc , characterized by cold winters, warm summers, and a flora dominated by pines and hazels
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Relating to the north or to northern areas.
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Relating to the north wind.
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Relating to the forest areas of the Northern Temperate Zone that are dominated by coniferous trees such as spruce, fir, and pine.
Etymology
Origin of boreal
1425–75; late Middle English boriall < Late Latin boreālis northern ( Latin bore(ās) Boreas + -ālis -al 1 )
Vocabulary lists containing boreal
Canada - Introductory
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Canada - Middle School and High School
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Russia - Middle School and High School
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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.
Wildfires sweeping through the vast boreal forests of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia could be having a larger impact on the climate than scientists once believed.
From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026
A 2021 study found that the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada in the winter are particularly prone to these types of rekindled fires, which are also known as overwintering or “zombie” fires.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025
Wildfires are part of the natural cycle, and play an essential role in the regeneration of Canada's boreal forests, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Canada.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2025
The study found that boreal forests in the northern hemisphere are particularly vulnerable to negative effects of cleaning up aerosol pollution.
From Science Daily • May 29, 2024
He is Frank Volkheimer, an upperclassman, seventeen years old, a colossal boy from some boreal village, a legend among the younger cadets.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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.
