Trop"ic, 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.] 1. (Astron.) One of the two
small circles of the celestial sphere, situated on each side of the
equator, at a distance of 23° 28&min;, and parallel to it, which the
sun just reaches at its greatest declination north or south, and from which
it turns again toward the equator, the northern circle being called the
Tropic of Cancer, and the southern the Tropic of Capricorn,
from the names of the two signs at which they touch the ecliptic.
2. (Geog.) (a) One of the
two parallels of terrestrial latitude corresponding to the celestial
tropics, and called by the same names. (b) pl.
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.
Trop"ic, a. 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.
Trop"ic, 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.] 1. (Astron.) One of the two
small circles of the celestial sphere, situated on each side of the
equator, at a distance of 23° 28&min;, and parallel to it, which the
sun just reaches at its greatest declination north or south, and from which
it turns again toward the equator, the northern circle being called the
Tropic of Cancer, and the southern the Tropic of Capricorn,
from the names of the two signs at which they touch the ecliptic.
2. (Geog.) (a) One of the
two parallels of terrestrial latitude corresponding to the celestial
tropics, and called by the same names. (b) pl.
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.
Trop"ic, a. 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.
