Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Extremely cold; frigid. See Synonyms at cold.
- n. A warm waterproof overshoe.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Pertaining or related to the northern constellations called the Great and Little Bears; hence, pertaining or relating to the north pole or the northern polar regions; northern: as, the arctic circle, region, or sea.
- Cold; frigid.
Wiktionary
- adj. Being extremely cold, snowy, or having other properties of extreme winter associated with the Arctic.
- n. US A warm waterproof overshoe.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation called the
Bear ; northern; frigid. - n. The arctic circle.
- n. U.S. A warm waterproof overshoe.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. of or relating to the Arctic
- n. a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow
- adj. extremely cold
- n. the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
Etymologies
- Old French artique, from Ancient Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikos, "of the bear, northern"), a reference to the northerly constellation Ursa Major, from ἄρκτος (arktos, "bear"). (Wiktionary)
- Alteration (influenced by Latin arcticus) of Middle English artic, northern, from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos, bear, the northern constellation Ursa Major. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“This attempted suicide scene at the arctic is at the beginning of the game, as well.”
The Real Story Behind Captain America in The Incredible Hulk « FirstShowing.net
“It's what they call the arctic regions,' said Celestina.”
“(But then, for some reason I've always found spooky stories set in arctic climes to be particularly effective.) 2: 27 PM”
H. P. Lovecraft "At the Mountains of Madness" and other masterpieces of terror
“The average winter temperature in the arctic is something like - 40C.”
Freeman Dyson on Global Warming, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
“Similar declines in arctic sea ice reportedly occurred at the turn of the 20th century, when the Northwest passage was also navigable, and during the 1940s.”
“The term "indigenous" in this context excludes long-term arctic residents not of indigenous descent, implies that all indigenous persons hold this knowledge, and emphasizes ancestry over experience.”
“Even as they killed them to extinction, the sea cows drifted and swam in arctic waters unafraid of the stranded men.”
““Take the cold tolerance of bacteria that thrive in arctic ice, add the ultraviolet resistance of tomato plants growing high in the Andes mountains, and combine with an ordinary plant.””
“In tropical countries, the buds unguarded by bracts like our own are said to be much darker; and in arctic regions, the young leaves are also said to be of a darker color.”
“It is supposed to breed very far north, in arctic countries.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘arctic’.
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grade 3
ability, absorb, act, tive, actual, adopt, advantage, ambition, ancient, arrange, arctic, attitude and 125 more...
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G[r]eek
A collection of words found in English that are either purely Greek or have Greek etymology.
Please add with caution and certainty. Will be regularly updated by me.etymology, philosophy, laconic, disharmony, patriarchic, archaic, phlogiston, aether, aeon, angel, arachnid, rhythm and 346 more...
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Ayumi G3
Ability, absorb, accuse, act, active, actual, adopt, advantage, advice, ambition, ancient, approach and 128 more...
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Blues
cerulean, azure, cobalt, lapus lazuli, periwinkle, denim, ultramarine, sapphire, cyan, bleu, azzurro, democrats and 14 more...
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Word List Level RED 1-40
Ability, absorb, accuse, act, active, actual, adopt, advantage, advice, ambition, ancient, approach and 28 more...
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Word List Level RED 1-40
absorb, accuse, act, active, actual, adopt, advantage, advince, ambition, ancient, approach, arrange and 28 more...
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Word List - Level Red 1-40
Ability, absorb, accuse, act, active, actual, adopt, advantage, advice, ambition, ancient, approach and 28 more...
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Grade 3
Ability, absorb, ability, accuse, act, active, actual, adopt, advantage, advice, ambition, ancient and 26 more...
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magoosh1
aberration, aboveboard, abysmal, ace, affable, aghast, alacrity, ambiguous, ambivalent, ameliorate, amenable, amiable and 222 more...
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What's That Pokémon Name?
Words used to create the names of Pokémon, which are usually portmanteaux.
bulb, dinosaur, ivy, venus, char, salamander, squirt, turtle, blast, tortoise, water, caterpillar and 525 more...
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elvesoncrack's Words
lachrymose, blustering, fjord, chihuahua, chiffon, catalytic, stile, gefilte, prosh, thwart, ralph, ickle and 379 more...
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Ships of Fame
Famous ship names that I've heard of and/or like. Includes airships. See also the list Ships, if you want to.
bonhomme richard, serapis, monitor, virginia, florizel, aurora, stephano, golden hind, santa maria, pinta, nina, beagle and 119 more...
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GRE
Taisha GRE Bible
archaic, archetype, archipelago, architect, archive, arctic, ardor, arduous, argot, arid, armory, arrest and 289 more...
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mandarine's Words
antepenultimate, metonymy, synecdoche, pop, kern, inherit, clique, scrumptious, macerate, murmur, kerning, veranda and 1068 more...
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Landscape
riparian, littoral, talus, fen, ambit, savanna, remnant prairie, shortgrass prairie, tallgrass prairie, marsh, swamp, marshy and 199 more...
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luckylime's Words
cacophony, cascade, trigger, crunch, vellum paper, arduous, luminescent, voluminous, euphoric, bucolic, diaphanous, danger and 162 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for arctic.

bilby I find it hard to believe in the Arctic Sea. Seems like the 'c' goes missing more often than not :-( Oct 6, 2008