Arctic
proper noun
- polar region on the Earth's northern hemisphere
adjective
- from or concerning the polar region on the Earth's northern hemisphere
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L316436 on Wikidata ↗adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L334560 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɑː(k)tɪk/ / /ˈɑɹ(k)tɪk/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English artik, artyk (with -c- reintroduced after Latin in the 17th century), from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikós, “northern, of the (Great) Bear”), from ἄρκτος (árktos, “bear, Ursa Major”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”). Cognate with Latin ursus.
- Pertaining to the celestial north pole, or to the pole star.
- Pertaining to the northern polar region of the planet, characterised by extreme cold and an icy landscape.
“What neede the artick people loue star-light, To whom the sunne shines both by day and night.”
“[…] on th’ other side Incenc’t with indignation Satan stood Unterrifi’d, and like a Comet burn’d, That fires the length of Ophiucus huge In th’ Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes Pestilence and Warr.”
- Extremely cold, snowy, or having other properties of extreme winter associated with the Arctic.
“‘Could you close that window, please!’ Strickland called, dialling again. ‘It's bloody arctic down this end.’”
- Designed for use in very cold conditions.
name
Etymology: From Middle English artik, artyk (with -c- reintroduced after Latin in the 17th century), from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikós, “northern, of the (Great) Bear”), from ἄρκτος (árktos, “bear, Ursa Major”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”). Cognate with Latin ursus.
- The north celestial pole.
- A continental region consisting of the portion of the Earth north of the Arctic Circle, containing the North Pole.
“I’ve visited the world from arctic to ecliptic, as a surgeon does a hospital, and find all men sick of some distemper […]”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English artik, artyk (with -c- reintroduced after Latin in the 17th century), from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikós, “northern, of the (Great) Bear”), from ἄρκτος (árktos, “bear, Ursa Major”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ŕ̥tḱos (“bear”). Cognate with Latin ursus.
- A warm waterproof overshoe.
- Any of various butterflies of the genus Oeneis.