tropical

[trop-i-kuhl, troh-pi-kuhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, occurring in, or inhabiting the tropics, especially the humid tropics.

   tropical flowers.

2. very hot and humid.

   a tropical climate.

3. designed for use in the tropics or in very hot weather (often used in combination).

   tropical-weight woolens.

4. of or relating to either or both of the astronomical tropics.

5. pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a trope or tropes; metaphorical.

noun

1. tropicals, lightweight clothing, suitable for warm, especially summer weather.

tropical

/ ˈtrɒpɪkəl /

adjective

1. situated in, used in, characteristic of, or relating to the tropics

2. (of weather) very hot, esp when humid

3. rhetoric of or relating to a trope

Other Word Forms

• tropicality noun
• tropically adverb
• hypertropical adjective
• nontropical adjective
• nontropically adverb
• untropical adjective
• untropically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropical¹

First recorded in 1520–30; tropic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The winds from the storm were “just reaching tropical storm strength on the Outer Banks,” around 11 p.m.,

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Still, a tropical storm watch remained in effect for Baja California Sur, where effects from the storm were expected to begin Wednesday.

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Hamm was shown in the audience wearing the same tropical outfit.

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Though it will contain remnants of the tropical storm, it will be a separate weather system.

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It left the same number of dead in the Philippines, where officials said the overall toll from Bualoi, Ragasa and another tropical storm in September had risen to 26.

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Related Words

• equatorial 
• hot 
• lush 
• steamy 
• sultry 
• sweltering