tropical

adjective

trop·​i·​cal
for sense 1
ˈträ-pi-kəl How to pronounce tropical (audio)
 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
tropically adverb

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 Men and women were forced to labor in the tropical sun for 12 hours or more a day to fulfill ever-rising production quotas. Matthew Brown, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024 Hard Rock does not offer the tropical splendor and ambiance of the tournament’s former home. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2024 With wooden walls, tropical colors and nautical decor, YachtSea aims to be a cozy, neighborhood bar in Butchertown. The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024 Since the first was launched in 2015, Damen owners have visited tropical destinations with their expedition yachts. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 There are 27 categories, with a total of 76 nominees that span all musical genres including pop, urban, música Mexicana and tropical. Thania Garcia, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 In addition to celebrating their two-year anniversary, Brittany shared a few snapshots of the family’s tropical vacation on Sunday. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Place the pot in bright, indirect light, choosing a humid spot, if possible, to mimic the plant's native tropical environment. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 These details have inspired my packing list, including tropical prints inspired by blooming fauna, and breathable, flowing fabrics that stand up against humid days. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tropical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tropical was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near tropical

Cite this Entry

“Tropical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tropical. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tropical

adjective
trop·​i·​cal ˈträp-i-kəl How to pronounce tropical (audio)
: of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics
tropically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tropical

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