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-tropic. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-tropic, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-tropic in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-tropic you have here. The definition of the word
-tropic will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek τροπικός (tropikós, “of or pertaining to a turn or change; or the solstice; or a trope or figure; tropic; tropical; etc.”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”). Compare trope and tropic.
Suffix
-tropic
- (sciences) Turning or changing.
- (sciences) Affecting or attracted to the thing specified.
- psycho- (“mind”) + -tropic (“altering”) → psychotropic (“mind-altering”)
Usage notes
Frequently confused with -trophic (“growth, development; nutrition”), which is instead from Ancient Greek τροφικός (trophikós, “pertaining to food or nourishment”), from τροφή (trophḗ, “food”). Compare tropic hormone (drives other glands) and trophic hormone (affects growth) and tropo-/tropho-.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
affecting or attracted to the thing specified
Translations to be checked
References
- ^ “Trophic vs. Tropic”, Werner Steinberg, JAMA, May 3, 1952, 149(1), p. 82, doi:10.1001/jama.1952.02930180084027.
Anagrams