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

Lego Creator 3 in 1 Tropical Ukulele This Lego Creator set celebrates tropical vibes with three unique designs: a colorful ukulele, a beach drum, or a parrot figure. —Jacquelyn Smith, Parents, 28 Nov. 2024

An eager but untested island girl, Moana became a wayfinder, restoring her lush tropical home and discovering, along the way, that her people had always been voyagers. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024

The region has a tropical monsoon climate with a dry and wet season. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024

Outside, a stone terrace is the place to revel in the tropical warmth by day and linger over the vivid sunset with a cocktail in hand. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 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