mesic

[mez-ik, mes-, mee-zik, -sik]

adjective

of, relating to, or adapted to an environment having a balanced supply of moisture.

Origin of mesic

First recorded in 1925–30; mes- + -ic

Related formsmes·i·cal·ly, adverb

mesic

[mee-zik, -sik, mez-ik, mes-]

adjective Physics.

of or relating to a meson; mesonic.

Origin of mesic

First recorded in 1935–40; mes(on) + -ic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mesic

Historical Examples of mesic

The stock on the Caribbean lowlands remained in mesic environments and evolved into S. cyanosticta.
Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Smilisca
William E. Duellman
In fallen leaves and decaying wood in xeric and mesic hammock habitats (Friauf, 1953).
The Biotic Associations of Cockroaches
Louis M. Roth
The mesic conditions to the north in Tabasco and Yucatn probably have restricted the movement of pygmy mice to the north.
Speciation and Evolution of the Pygmy Mice, Genus Baiomys
Robert L. Packard
Peromyscus maniculatus is ubiquitous, occurring in habitats ranging from mesic boreal forests to arid southwestern deserts.
Comparative Ecology of Pinyon Mice and Deer Mice in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Charles L. Douglas
However, in summer, the finding of a racer in mesic woodland is a rare event.
Natural History of the Racer Coluber constrictor
Henry S. Fitch

British Dictionary definitions for mesic

mesic

adjective

of, relating to, or growing in conditions of medium water supplymesic plants
of or relating to a meson

Derived Formsmesically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mesic

adj.

1926, in ecology sense, from Greek mesos "middle" (see meso-) + -ic. From 1939 in physics (from meson).

mesic in Science

mesic

[mĕz′ĭk, mĕs′-, mē′zĭk, -sĭk]

Relating or adapted to a moderately moist habitat. The sugar maple, white ash, and basswood are mesic plants. Compare hydric xeric.