Weather / B2

TROP-ikl/ˈtrɒpɪkl/

Tropical means of the tropics, the hot region near the equator: a tropical climate; tropical rainforest. Topic is a subject (already in the dictionary); topographic is about relief maps. Map a tropical rainforest biome, not a houseplant brand. Mix-up: topical (in the news); topic. Do not call a warm British summer tropical without the latitude.

Meaning

Connected with the tropics, the hot region near the equator.

Examples

• “Map a tropical rainforest biome, not a houseplant brand, the geography paper said.”
• “Tropical storms featured in the hazard case, which is the climate-zone sense.”

Good to know

a tropical climate / rainforest / storm; the tropics. Trap: topic / topical. Geography and science. Of the equatorial belt, not merely “quite hot”.

Topics

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