tropic
C1Formal / Scientific / Everyday (in geographical/travel contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A line of latitude approximately 23.5 degrees north (Tropic of Cancer) or south (Tropic of Capricorn) of the equator.
The region of the Earth lying between these lines, characterized by a hot climate (the tropics). Can also refer to something related to or evocative of this region.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly used as a noun ('the tropics'). The adjective is 'tropical'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor variations in collocational preferences.
Connotations
Neutral geographical term. Connotes heat, lush vegetation, and sometimes adventure or exoticism.
Frequency
Equal frequency. Slightly higher in US media due to proximity to the Caribbean and Central America.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun + of + [specific name (Cancer/Capricorn)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Tropic of Cancer”
- “The Tropic of Capricorn”
- “Beyond the tropics”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Tropic fruit import/export, tourism to the tropics.
Academic
Climate studies, geography, ecology of the tropics.
Everyday
Planning a holiday in the tropics, talking about the weather.
Technical
Astronomy (celestial tropics), Geography (climatic classification).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The ship began to tropic northwards.
adjective
British English
- The expedition studied tropic fauna.
American English
- The expedition studied tropic fauna.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is very hot in the tropics.
- The Tropic of Cancer is in the north.
- We flew south, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn.
- Many birds migrate to the tropics for winter.
- The biodiversity found within the tropics is unparalleled.
- Climate models predict shifting patterns for the tropic zones.
- Anthropogenic pressure on the fragile ecosystems of the tropics is intensifying.
- The ship's course was plotted to remain just north of the tropic line.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a giant tape measure around the Earth; the TROPIC is the line where it's too hot (TROP) for a thick ICe cap.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TROPICS AS A PARADISE / FURNACE. E.g., 'A tropical paradise' vs. 'The relentless tropic heat.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'тропик' (a small path/animal trail). The English word only refers to the geographical line/region.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tropic' as an adjective (incorrect: 'a tropic island'; correct: 'a tropical island').
- Confusing 'Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn' with 'Equator'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct usage of 'tropic'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the primary part of speech is a noun. The adjective form is 'tropical' (e.g., tropical climate, tropical fruit). 'Tropic' is rarely used as an adjective outside specific scientific compounds.
'Tropic' (singular) usually refers to one of the two specific lines of latitude. 'The tropics' (plural) refers to the entire hot region between these two lines.
The standard term is 'subtropical' (one word, with 'a'). 'Sub-tropic' is non-standard and should be avoided.
They are named after the constellations the sun appeared to be in at the June solstice (Cancer) and the December solstice (Capricorn) over 2000 years ago. Due to precession, the sun is now in different constellations at these times.