/ ˈɑːktɪk; NAmE ˈɑːrk-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] related to or happening in the regions around the North Pole :
Arctic explorers
—compare Antarctic
2.
arctic extremely cold :
TV pictures showed the arctic conditions.
■ noun
[ sing. ] the Arctic the regions of the world around the North Pole
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin arcticus , articus , from Greek arktikos , from arktos bear, Ursa Major, pole star.