tropic
tropic definition
tropic (träp′ik)
noun
- Astron. either of two circles of the celestial sphere parallel to the celestial equator, one, the Tropic of Cancer, c. 23° 26 north, and the other, the Tropic of Capricorn, c. 23° 26 south: they are the limits of the apparent north-and-south journey of the sun and are determined by the obliquity of the ecliptic
- Geog. either of two parallels of latitude (Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn) situated on either side of the earth's equator that correspond to the astronomical tropics
Etymology: ME tropik < LL tropicus < Gr tropikos, belonging to a turn (of the sun at the solstices) < tropē: see trope
adjective
of the tropics; tropical
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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