tropic

Multiple Entries:
  tropic    -tropic    trophic  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
tropic1 /ˈtrɒpɪk/

▶noun

• 1 the parallel of latitude 23°26′ north (tropic of Cancer) or south (tropic of Capricorn) of the equator.

• 2 (the tropics) the region between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

• 3 Astronomy each of two corresponding circles on the celestial sphere where the sun appears to turn after reaching its greatest declination, marking the northern and southern limits of the ecliptic.

▶adjective tropical.

– origin ME: via L. from Gk tropikos, from tropē ‘turning’, from trepein ‘to turn’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
tropic2 /ˈtrəʊpɪk/

▶adjective

• 1 Biology relating to, consisting of, or exhibiting tropism.

• 2 Physiology variant spelling of trophic.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-tropic/ˈtrəʊpɪk/

▶combining form

• 1 turning towards: heliotropic.

• 2 affecting: psychotropic.

• 3 (especially in names of hormones) equivalent to -trophic.

– origin from Gk tropē ‘turn, turning’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
trophic /ˈtrəʊfɪk, ˈtrɒfɪk/

▶adjective

• 1 Ecology relating to feeding and nutrition.

• 2 (also tropic) Physiology (of a hormone or its effect) stimulating the activity of another endocrine gland.

– origin C19: from Gk trophikos, from trophē ‘nourishment’, from trephein ‘nourish’.