oceanic

[ oh-shee-an-ik ]

/ ˌoʊ ʃiˈæn ɪk /

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See synonyms for oceanic on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, living in, or produced by the ocean: oceanic currents.

Oceanography. of or relating to the region of water lying above the bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones of the sea bottom.Compare neritic, pelagic.

immensely large; vast: an oceanic expanse of stars.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to Oceania, its peoples, or their languages.

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Origin of oceanic

First recorded in 1650–60; from Medieval Latin ōceanicus, equivalent to Latin ōcean(us) + -icus adjective suffix; see origin at ocean, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM oceanic

pre·o·ce·an·ic, adjectiveun·o·ce·an·ic, adjective

Words nearby oceanic

oceanfront, oceangoing, ocean greyhound, Oceania, Oceanian, oceanic, oceanic crust, oceanicity, oceanic ridge, oceanic trench, Oceanid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use oceanic in a sentence

Over the past half-century, oceanic sharks and rays have diminished around the globe, an international team of scientists reported on January 27 in the journal Nature.
Sharks and rays are far less abundant in the world’s oceans than 50 years ago|Kate Baggaley|January 27, 2021|Popular-Science
Meanwhile, below the oceans are thin but dense oceanic crusts.
After 1.5 Billion Years in Flux, Here’s How a New, Stronger Crust Set the Stage for Life on Earth|Fabio A Capitanio|December 3, 2020|Singularity Hub
As they left the Auckland Islands, two whales visited other oceanic islands—skirting around Macquarie Island and visiting Campbell Island.
The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes|By Emma Carroll/The Conversation|November 2, 2020|Popular-Science
It comes with this oceanic feeling that you’re in this giant ocean of existence, and that life is a celebration.
How Psilocybin Can Save the Environment - Issue 90: Something Green|Mark MacNamara|September 30, 2020|Nautilus

Each of these extreme weather events was the result of a particular set of atmospheric — and in the case of Laura, oceanic — conditions.
What’s behind August 2020’s extreme weather? Climate change and bad luck|Carolyn Gramling|August 27, 2020|Science News
John Luther Adams lives up to the title of his composition, capturing an oceanic torrent of sound in an awe-inspiring performance.
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rarely so personal, death was more often oceanic and everywhere.
Blood and Mud: A French Soldier’s WWI Memoir Vividly Describes Trench Warfare|Marc Wortman|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are the worst storms ever to hit the U.S.
Hercules, Schmercules. Here Are America’s 5 Worst Blizzards|Nina Strochlic|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He falls deep into oceanic silence, interrupted only by the sound of Adele (singing a mediocre Bond anthem), and you know what?
Is ‘Skyfall’ the Best (and Gayest) James Bond Movie Yet?|Ramin Setoodeh, Marlow Stern|November 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Biologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration doing field research on endangered species?
Who Gets Hurt in a Government Shutdown|Daniel Stone|April 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The hundred-fathom line lies far beyond them; these waters, though thoroughly oceanic in character, are not oceanic in depth.
The Cornwall Coast|Arthur L. Salmon
With the exception of the occupants of the Malayan Peninsula, all the Oceanic population occupy islands.
The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies|Robert Gordon Latham
We continued to have the southern oceanic birds accompany us and a few whales.
A Voyage to the South Sea|William Bligh
My feet stand on the oceanic watershed, my eyes roam over this huge system, which I love as my own possession.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin
Lake Huron charms the eye, with the view of its freshness and oceanic expanse.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820|Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

British Dictionary definitions for oceanic (1 of 2)

oceanic

/ (ˌəʊʃɪˈænɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to the ocean

living in the depths of the ocean beyond the continental shelf at a depth exceeding 200 metresoceanic fauna

huge or overwhelming

(of geological formations) of volcanic origin, arising from the oceanoceanic islands

British Dictionary definitions for oceanic (2 of 2)

Oceanic

/ (ˌəʊʃɪˈænɪk) /

noun

a branch, group, or subfamily of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages, comprising Polynesian and Melanesian

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to this group of languages

of or relating to Oceania

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

Scientific definitions for oceanic

oceanic

[ ō′shē-ăn′ĭk ]

Relating to the ocean.

Relating to the ocean waters that lie beyond the continental shelf and exceed 200 m (656 ft) in depth. Compare neritic. See more at epipelagic zone.

oceanic

Origin of oceanic

OTHER WORDS FROM oceanic

Words nearby oceanic

Words related to oceanic

How to use oceanic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oceanic (1 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for oceanic (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for oceanic