alpine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, academic, technical, geographical
Quick answer
What does “alpine” mean?
Relating to high mountains, especially the Alps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to high mountains, especially the Alps; characteristic of such high-altitude environments.
1. Resembling or suitable for conditions in high mountains. 2. (Botany) Of plants: growing on mountains above the tree line. 3. (Capitalised) Relating to or characteristic of the Alpine region of Europe.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Alpine' in plant cultivation/horticulture may be slightly more frequent in UK gardening discourse.
Connotations
Both regions strongly associate the word with skiing, mountaineering, and rugged natural beauty. In the US, it can also evoke 'Alpine' architecture (Swiss-style chalets).
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, but higher in contexts of geography, botany, sports, and tourism.
Grammar
How to Use “alpine” in a Sentence
[Alpine] + noun (e.g., alpine region)verb + [alpine] (e.g., enjoy alpine walking)preposition + [alpine] (e.g., adapted to alpine conditions)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alpine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We plan to alpine next winter in Chamonix.
- He's spent years alpining across the Dolomites.
American English
- They're going to alpine in Colorado this season.
- She alpines competitively on the World Cup circuit.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In tourism: 'The company invested in an alpine resort development.'
Academic
In geography/ecology: 'The study focused on alpine permafrost degradation.'
Everyday
Describing a holiday: 'We went for an alpine hike last summer.'
Technical
In botany: 'This species exhibits typical alpine cushion growth form.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alpine”
- Using 'alpine' to describe any hill (requires significant height/ruggedness).
- Confusing 'alpine' (ecozone above treeline) with 'montane' (ecozone of lower mountain slopes).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While capitalised 'Alpine' refers specifically to the Alps, lowercase 'alpine' is a general term for high mountain environments worldwide (e.g., alpine regions of the Himalayas or Rockies).
Yes, primarily in plural form ('alpines') to refer to plants adapted to grow above the tree line. In gardening, 'an alpine' is a plant suitable for a rock garden.
'Alpine' refers to the zone above the tree line, with low-growing vegetation. 'Subalpine' is the forest zone immediately below the tree line, often with stunted trees (krummholz).
No. An 'alpinist' is a mountain climber, especially in the Alps. 'Alpine' is an adjective. 'Alpine' describes things, while 'alpinist' describes a person.
Relating to high mountains, especially the Alps.
Alpine is usually formal, academic, technical, geographical in register.
Alpine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈælpaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælpaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go alpine (informal: engage in alpine sports)”
- “Alpine start (mountaineering: a very early morning departure)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the ALPS + the suffix -INE (like 'canine' but for mountains). 'ALP-INE' means 'of the Alps/of high mountains.'
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGH IS DIFFICULT/PURE ('alpine challenges', 'alpine clarity'), NATURE IS MAJESTIC ('alpine grandeur').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'alpine' be LEAST appropriate?