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Arctic

Pronunciation: /ˈɑːktɪk/

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Definition of Arctic

adjective

  • 1relating to the regions around the North Pole:an Arctic explorer
  • (of animals or plants) living or growing in the region around the North Pole: Arctic plants
  • 2 (arctic) informal (of weather conditions) very cold: February brought arctic conditions the arctic weather of 1981

noun

  • 1 (the Arctic) the regions around the North Pole.
  • 2North American a thick waterproof overshoe extending to the ankle or above.
  • 3 (arctic) a drab-coloured hairy butterfly of the arctic and subarctic regions of the New World.
    • Genus Oenis, subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arcticus, articus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos 'bear, Ursa Major, pole star'

Spelling help

Remember that there are two c's in Arctic.

Spelling tip

the Arctic has a cold climate.

Arctic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of Arctic in the US English dictionary