/ ˈtrɒpɪk; NAmE ˈtrɑːpɪk/ noun
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] one of the two imaginary lines drawn around the world 23° 26′ north ( the Tropic of Cancer ) or south ( the Tropic of Capricorn ) of the equator
2.
the tropics [ pl. ] the area between the two tropics, which is the hottest part of the world
SYN the torrid zone
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting the point on the ecliptic reached by the sun at the solstice): via Latin from Greek tropikos , from tropē turning, from trepein to turn.