Weather / B2

AHKT-ik/ˈɑːktɪk/

Arctic means of the region around the North Pole: the Arctic; Arctic sea ice. It is also informal for extremely cold. The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude; the Antarctic is the South Polar twin (this batch). Give the latitude for the Arctic station, then the sea-ice year. Mix-up: arctic vs Antarctic; article (already in the dictionary); do not write arctic for a mild frost in the UK climate table.

Meaning

Of the region around the North Pole (the Arctic as a noun); also extremely cold in informal writing.

Examples

• “Give the latitude for the Arctic station, then the sea-ice year, not a polar-bear caption.”
• “Arctic conditions in the fieldwork log still need the °C, which is the informal-cold sense — still quote the thermometer.”

Good to know

the Arctic; Arctic sea ice / Circle; arctic (informal: very cold). Twin: the Antarctic (south). Trap: article / a mild UK frost. Geography and science. The North Polar region — quote latitude, ice year, or °C.

Near in meaning

North Polar, polar, the Arctic

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