ˈbōrēəl, ˈbȯr- adjective
Etymology: Middle English boriall, from Late Latin borealis, from Latin boreas north wind, Boreas, Greek god of the north wind + -alis -al
1. : of, relating to, or located in northern regions
2. : northern: as
a. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting a terrestrial biogeographic division comprising the northern and mountainous parts of the northern hemisphere in which mean temperature during the six hottest weeks does not exceed 64.4° F and being equivalent to the Holarctic region exclusive of the Sonoran and Transition zones and corresponding Old World areas ; especially : nearctic
b. usually capitalized : of or relating to a terrestrial biogeographic zone between the Arctic and the Transitional zone and made up of Hudsonian and Canadian zones
c. : of or relating to the northern biotic area characterized by dominance of coniferous forests and tundra
3. : of, relating to, or marked by qualities associated with Boreas : cold , icy , frosty , wintry
boreal snows and never-thawing ice — J.A.Hillhouse
4. : relating to or constituting a period in postglacial times when Europe and No. America had a cooler climate like that of the present Boreal region