tundra

American  

[tuhn-druh, toon-] / ˈtʌn drə, ˈtʊn- /

noun

1. one of the vast, nearly level, treeless plains of the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America.

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tundra British  

/ ˈtʌndrə /

noun

1. 1. a vast treeless zone lying between the ice cap and the timberline of North America and Eurasia and having a permanently frozen subsoil

   2. ( as modifier )

      tundra vegetation

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tundra Scientific  

/ tŭn′drə /

1. A cold, treeless, usually lowland area of far northern regions. The lower strata of soil of tundras are permanently frozen, but in summer the top layer of soil thaws and can support low-growing mosses, lichens, grasses, and small shrubs.

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tundra Cultural  

1. A land area near the North Pole where the soil is permanently frozen a few feet underground.

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Discover More

There are no trees on the tundra: the vegetation is primarily lichens and mosses.

Tundra is widespread in Lapland and in the far northern portions of Alaska, Canada, and the Soviet Union.

Etymology

Origin of tundra

First recorded in 1840–45; from Russian túndra, from Sami tundar “hill”; compare Kola Sami tūndar “flat elevated area”; akin to Finnish tunturi “Arctic hill”

Compare meaning

How does tundra compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• taiga vs. tundra

Example Sentences

Across Europe, forests gave way to tundra, and rainfall patterns in lower latitudes shifted southward.

From Science Daily

It’s blitzes on the frozen tundra sure, but, it’s also Ernie Banks playing two on a beautiful July day.

From Salon

After more strolls along the tundra, I dine at Grill It restaurant, where winter appears plated rather than resisted.

From Salon

We have the same flow across the tundra and I know then we will finish.

From Literature

At first, we lived on the far side of the river, at the edge of the tundra, a great treeless place.

From Literature

Related Words

• expanse
• prairie
• steppe
• wasteland