■ adjective
1》 relating to the regions around the North Pole.
↘living or growing in such regions.
2》 ( arctic ) informal (of weather) very cold.
■ noun
1》 ( the ~ ) the regions around the North Pole.
2》 US a thick waterproof overshoe.
3》 ( arctic ) a drab-coloured hairy butterfly of the arctic and subarctic regions of the New World. [Genus Oenis .]
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. arcticus , articus , based on Gk arktos 'bear, Ursa Major, Pole Star'.