arctic
arctic Lexical Profile
arctic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, located in, or characteristic of the regions around the North Pole.
"Scientists are closely monitoring the rapid melting of the Arctic sea ice."
Extremely cold or frigid, resembling the climate of the far north.
"A blast of arctic air swept across the plains, dropping temperatures well below zero."
• noun
The northernmost polar region of the Earth, centered on the North Pole and encompassing the Arctic Ocean and the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia (usually capitalized as 'the Arctic').
"Many migratory birds travel thousands of miles to breed in the Arctic during the brief summer."
North American A warm, waterproof overshoe or boot, typically worn in pairs over regular footwear in snow and extreme cold.
"He pulled on his heavy rubber arctics before trudging out to shovel the snow-covered driveway."
• Rhymes for arctic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Old French and Latin from the Ancient Greek 'arktikos' ('northern'), derived from 'arktos' ('bear'), in reference to the northern constellations Ursa Major (the Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (the Little Bear).