2. (Geog.) (a) One of the two parallels of terrestrial latitude corresponding to the celestial tropics, and called by the same names. (b) pl.
Defn: The region lying between these parallels of latitude, or near
them on either side.
The brilliant flowers of the tropics bloom from the windows of the
greenhouse and the saloon. Bancroft.
TROPIC
Trop"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical. 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.
TROPICAL
Trop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. L. tropicus of turning, Gr. Tropic, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to the tropics; characteristic of, or incident to, the tropics; being within the tropics; as, tropical climate; tropical latitudes; tropical heat; tropical diseases.
2. Etym: [From Trope.]
Defn: Rhetorically changed from its exact original sense; being of the nature of a trope; figurative; metaphorical. Jer. Taylor. The foundation of all parables is some analogy or similitude between the tropical or allusive part of the parable and the thing intended by it. South. Tropic month. See Lunar month, under Month. — Tropic year, the solar year; the period occupied by the sun in passing from one tropic or one equinox to the same again, having a mean length of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46.0 seconds, which is 20 minutes, 23.3 seconds shorter than the sidereal year, on account of the precession of the equinoxes.
TROPICALLY
Trop"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a tropical manner; figuratively; metaphorically.