tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal

for sense 1

ˈträ-pi-kəl 

for sense 2

ˈtrō- 

also

ˈträ- 

1

a

: of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tropical forests

a tropical disease

b

: of, being, or characteristic of a region or climate that is frost-free with temperatures high enough to support year-round plant growth given sufficient moisture

tropical Florida

2

: figurative sense 2

tropically

ˈträ-pi-k(ə-)lē 

ˈtrō-

adverb

Synonyms

• equatorial
• low

Examples of tropical in a Sentence

wanted to escape winter and visit some tropical location where freezing to death would not be a possibility

an author given to high-flown tropical phrasings and convoluted symbology

Recent Examples on the Web

From development to production and sales, the company breeds high-performance seeds for a variety of crops that meet the most diverse requirements in temperate and tropical climates. —Judith Magyar, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Almost Famous' tropical holiday menu includes char siu pork belly, shrimp cocktail and spam sliders alongside festive drinks ($12+) like the Yule Tide (tequila, fruit brandy, lime, maple cranberry syrup), all served in a kitschy tiki bar setting. —Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Dec. 2024

Her recipes encapsulate so much of the tropical splendor of the Caribbean’s warm, bright flavors. —The Bon Appétit and Epicurious Staffs, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024

Now, Shimmy’s druggy earworms and tropical two-step anthems are the gold standard of South Florida rap. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) Middle English tropikal "pertaining to the three circles of the celestial sphere (the two tropics and the equinoctial circle)," from tropik tropic entry 1 + -al -al entry 1; (sense 2) Latin tropicus "pertaining to figures of speech" (borrowed from Greek tropikós, from trópos "figurative expression, trope" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tropical

• tropical aquarium
• tropical cyclone
• tropical fish
• tropical oil
• tropical rainforest
• tropical sprue
• tropical storm

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

tropically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb