arctic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   extremely cold

   an arctic climate

2. 2
   adj

   of or relating to the Arctic

   the Arctic summer

3. 3
   adj

   Pertaining to the northern polar region of the planet, characterised by extreme cold and an icy landscape.

   What neede the artick people loue star-light, To whom the sunne shines both by day and night.

4. 4
   adj

   Extremely cold, snowy, or having other properties of extreme winter associated with the Arctic.

   ‘Could you close that window, please!’ Strickland called, dialling again. ‘It's bloody arctic down this end.’

5. 5
   name

   A continental region consisting of the portion of the Earth north of the Arctic Circle, containing the North Pole.

   I’ve visited the world from arctic to ecliptic, as a surgeon does a hospital, and find all men sick of some distemper […]

6. 6
   noun

   a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow

7. 7
   adj

   Alternative letter-case form of Arctic.

8. 8
   noun

   Alternative letter-case form of Arctic.

Etymology

From Middle English artik, artyk (with -c- reintroduced after Latin in the 17th century), from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikós, “northern, of the (Great) Bear”), from ἄρκτος (árktos, “bear, Ursa Major”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”). Cognate with Latin ursus.