tropic

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: trop=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

tropic, n. [F. tropique, L. tropicus of or belonging to a turn, i. e., of the sun, Gr. of the solstice, (sc. ) the tropic or solstice, fr. to turn. See Trope.].

•  One of the two small circles of the celestial sphere, situated on each side of the equator, at a distance of 23Tropic of Cancer, and the southern the Tropic of Capricorn, from the names of the two signs at which they touch the ecliptic.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the two parallels of terrestrial latitude corresponding to the celestial tropics, and called by the same names.  [1913 Webster]

  "The brilliant flowers of the tropics bloom from the windows of the greenhouse and the saloon."  [1913 Webster]

tropic, a. 

 Of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical.  [1913 Webster]

Tropic bird (Zoöl.), any one of three species of oceanic belonging to the genus Phaëthon, found chiefly in tropical seas. They are mostly white, and have two central tail feathers very long and slender. The yellow-billed tropic bird. Phaëthon flavirostris (called also boatswain), is found on the Atlantic coast of America, and is common at the Bermudas, where it breeds.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tropic, n. & adj.
--n.
1 the parallel of latitude 23°27

Idiom

tropic bird any sea bird of the family Phaethontidae, with very long central tail-feathers.

Usage

north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the Equator.
2 each of two corresponding circles on the celestial sphere where the sun appears to turn after reaching its greatest declination.
3 (the Tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
--adj.
1 = TROPICAL 1.
2 of tropism.

Etymology

ME f. L tropicus f. Gk tropikos f. trope turning f. trepo turn