tropical

[trop-i-kuhl, troh-pi-kuhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, occurring in, or inhabiting the tropics, especially the humid tropics.

   tropical flowers.

2. very hot and humid.

   a tropical climate.

3. designed for use in the tropics or in very hot weather (often used in combination).

   tropical-weight woolens.

4. of or relating to either or both of the astronomical tropics.

5. pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a trope or tropes; metaphorical.

noun

1. tropicals, lightweight clothing, suitable for warm, especially summer weather.

tropical

/ ˈtrɒpɪkəl /

adjective

1. situated in, used in, characteristic of, or relating to the tropics

2. (of weather) very hot, esp when humid

3. rhetoric of or relating to a trope

Other Word Forms

• tropically adverb
• tropicality noun
• hypertropical adjective
• nontropical adjective
• nontropically adverb
• untropical adjective
• untropically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropical¹

First recorded in 1520–30; tropic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

That's how David describes his experience of roughing it on a remote tropical beach.

From BBC

“You can also do different fruit juices. You can do half lemonade, half mango or pineapple. I think tropical fruits really work well with the pickles,” said Ziata.

From Salon

However, it has remained common in tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America and has recently been spreading north with the first new case reported in Mexico in November 2024.

From BBC

Kini lies an hour outside of Merida in a dense tropical forest.

From Los Angeles Times

The bulk of the tropical moisture will stay south and east of Los Angeles County, though showers will be possible, according to the weather service’s Oxnard office.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• equatorial 
• hot 
• lush 
• steamy 
• sultry 
• sweltering