tropic

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   One of two imaginary lines around the Earth, north and south of the equator, marking the edges of the hottest region.

   The ship crossed the Tropic of Cancer at noon.

2. 2
   adj

   Belonging to or typical of the hot region near the equator.

   They sailed through warm tropic waters.

From Late Latin tropicus (“of or pertaining to the solstice, as a noun, one of the tropics”), from Ancient Greek τροπικός (tropikós, “of or pertaining to a turn or change; or the solstice; or a trope or figure; tropic; tropical; etc.”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”).

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