Tropic

Tropic refers to a geographic concept as well as to a broad set of uses in proper nouns. In geography, the tropics denote the region between the Tropic of Cancer at about 23.5 degrees north and the Tropic of Capricorn at about 23.5 degrees south. Within this band the sun can be directly overhead at solar noon at least once during the year, and the climate tends to be warm year round. The term and its plural “tropics” are commonly used in climatology, ecology, and geography to describe this zone and its characteristic environments, such as tropical rainforests and savannas.

The word tropic derives from Greek tropikos, from tropos meaning “turn” or “way,” reflecting historical observations of the sun’s position in the sky. The Latin form tropicus entered English in the early modern period, and today the term is used in geography, climatology, and related fields to describe the band and its climate.

In addition to its geographic meaning, Tropic also appears in various proper nouns. It is used in the titles of well-known works such as Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn by Henry Miller. Contemporary entities that use the term include Tropic Skincare, a UK-based company, and Tropic Air, a Belizean airline. The word’s broad association with tropical regions underlies these and other usages.