Arc ‧ tic BrE AmE , arctic /ˈɑːktɪk $ ˈɑːrk-/ adjective [only before noun]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: arcticus , from Greek , from arktos 'bear, Ursa Major (= bear-shaped group of stars in the northern sky), north' ]
1 . relating to the most northern part of the world ⇨ Antarctic :
the Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya
2 . extremely cold:
arctic conditions