I. ˈalˌpīn also -_pə̇n adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin Alpinus, from Alpes Alps + -inus -ine
1. often capitalized : resembling or relating to the Alps or any lofty mountain or mountain system
alpine scenery
alpine winter
2. usually capitalized : of or relating to the mountain-making movements in Europe in the Tertiary period — see geologic time table
3.
a. usually capitalized : of, relating to, or being the biogeographic zone made up of elevated slopes above timber line and characterized by the presence of rosette-forming herbaceous plants and low shrubby slow-growing woody plants
b. often capitalized : growing in this zone
alpine plants
c. often capitalized : of, relating to, or made up of alpine plants
an alpine forest
4. usually capitalized : of or relating to a broadheaded medium-statured brown-eyed or brown-haired white man of stocky build who is often regarded as representative of one of the three physical types of the white race
a pure Alpine type
— compare mediterranean , nordic
5. often capitalized : devoted to mountaineering activities
an alpine club
• al·pine·ly adverb
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a plant native to mountain summits or boreal regions that is often grown in alpine or rock gardens
2. sometimes capitalized : a goat of a breed of large hardy milch goats originated in the Swiss Alps — see british alpine
3. : any of several predominantly dark-brown or blackish butterflies (genus Erebia ) of northern regions
4. usually capitalized : a person possessing Alpine physical characteristics
III. adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
: of, relating to, or being competitive ski events consisting of slalom and downhill racing — compare nordic herein