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• alpine
  alpine

  adjective

  of, pertaining to, on, or part of any lofty mountain.
• Alpine
  Alpine

  adjective

  of or relating to the Alps or their inhabitants

alpine

American  

[al-pahyn, -pin] / ˈæl paɪn, -pɪn /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, on, or part of any lofty mountain.

2. very high; elevated.

3. Alpine, of, pertaining to, on, or part of the Alps.

4. Botany. growing on mountains above the limit of tree growth.

   alpine plants.

5. Often Alpine of or relating to downhill skiing or a competitive downhill skiing event.

6. Anthropology. Alpine, (no longer in technical use) having the features characteristic of an Alpine.

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noun

• alpines
  plural

1. Anthropology. Alpine, (no longer in technical use) a member of a Caucasoid people found in central Europe and characterized by heavy body build, medium complexion, and straight to wavy hair.

Alpine ¹ British  

/ ˈælpaɪn /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Alps or their inhabitants

2. geology

   1. of or relating to an episode of mountain building in the Tertiary period during which the Alps were formed

   2. of or relating to a high mountainous environment heavily modified by glacial erosion

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alpine ² British  

/ ˈælpaɪn /

adjective

1. of or relating to high mountains

2. (of plants) growing on mountains, esp above the limit for tree growth

3. connected with or used in mountaineering in medium-sized glaciated mountain areas such as the Alps

4. skiing of or relating to racing events on steep prepared slopes, such as the slalom and downhill Compare nordic

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noun

1. a plant that is native or suited to alpine conditions

alpine Scientific  

/ ăl′pīn′ /

1. Resembling or characteristic of the European Alps or any other high mountain system, especially one that has been shaped by intense glacial erosion.

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Usage

What is Alpine skiing? Alpine is a classification in the sport of skiing that specifically refers to forms of what’s sometimes also called downhill skiing—events that take place on a downhill course with the objective of crossing the finish line in the shortest possible amount of time. The terms Alpine and Alpine skiing are used in contrast with Nordic and Nordic skiing, which includes cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Both alpine and nordic are sometimes left uncapitalized. Alpine events include the slalom, the giant slalom, the super giant slalom (popularly called Super G)—all of which involve a course marked by poles or gates—as well as the event straightforwardly known as downhill, which takes place on a relatively straight downhill course (without gates). All of these are events in the Winter Olympics, grouped under the category officially called Alpine Skiing. There are also Alpine skiing events in the Paralympic Winter Games. The skis used in Alpine skiing differ from those used in Nordic skiing in shape, size, and structure. Example: Of all the Alpine events at the Winter Olympics, my favorite is giant slalom.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• alpinely
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• alpines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of alpine

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Alpīnus, equivalent to Alp(ēs) (plural) “the Alps” + -īnus adjective suffix; see -ine ¹

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Explanation

Use the word alpine to describe something that reminds you of high mountains. You could describe the distant clouds in the sky over the plains as "vaguely alpine." A plant or animal that lives in the mountains is alpine, and your summer trip hiking in the Rocky Mountains is also alpine. The kind of skiing that requires a mountain to race down is alpine skiing, and moss that grows at very high altitudes is alpine moss. In fact, if something has to do with tall mountains, it's alpine. The word means "of the Alps," and if Alpine is capitalized, it is referring specifically to the Alps.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alpine Alpine alpines

Currently, the birds are found in alpine meadows, located high in the mountains above the forests, which form some of the Himalayas' most important seasonal grazing and biodiversity-rich habitats.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

In a good year, four billion moths or more would escape the inland heat to seek shelter in the alpine caves of eastern Australia.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Give him six months of training and his alpine lineage and preternatural athleticism could have him scaling Everest and snowboarding down it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

With its limestone mountains, bucolic valleys and scattered alpine villages, this Unesco World Heritage site pairs alpine charm with thrill-inducing adventure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

The mountain is a biological island of rain forest in the center of Africa, an isolated world rising above dry plains, fifty miles across, blanketed with trees, bamboo, and alpine moor.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Alpine also saw the same pattern as did Haas more recently in terms of self-awareness and accountability.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

He and Gasly - who were childhood friends before falling out nearly 20 years ago - crashed twice together at Alpine.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Economists tend to see Switzerland as less exposed to higher energy prices from the war in Iran, given its more diversified energy mix that includes Alpine hydroelectric dams and nuclear power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Dacia sales fell 12.8%, but Alpine maintained strong growth momentum, with sales up 58.4%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

On the outskirts of the capital they built a storybook cottage, two stories, fretted with eaves and little porches and window boxes, an incongruous Alpine look in the tropics.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

At Oliver Nurseries, the alpines and plants that favor troughlike conditions are a small part of the vast offerings, as they have been since the nursery opened nearly 60 years ago.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

“No alpines are going to bloom all season,” Chips said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

Including Chips and her infectious love of alpines.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023

The openings between rocks offer opportunities for planting sun-loving alpines, succulents or small spring-flowering bulbs — plants with shallow roots that prefer well-drained soil.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 20, 2022

The selection of suitable alpines, perennials and shrubs and trees also necessitates considerable knowledge on the part of the gardener.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 7 "Horticulture" to "Hudson Bay" by Various

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