*tropic*

a. [ Gr. &unr_; changeful + &unr_; a turning, &unr_; to turn. ] (Physics) Exhibiting differences of quality or property in different directions; having properties with different values along different axes; not isotropic. In specialized contexts, synonymous with anisotropic. [ Also spelled eolotropic. ] Sir W. Thomson.
Syn. -- [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. allotropique. ] Of or pertaining to allotropism. -- Al`lo*trop"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Allotropic state, the several conditions which occur in a case of allotropism. [1913 Webster]

n. Allotropic property or nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Of or pertaining to ametropia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_; unequal + &unr_; a turning, &unr_; to turn. ] (Physics) Not isotropic; having different properties in different directions; thus, crystals of the isometric system are optically isotropic, but all other crystals are anisotropic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; + &unr_; sun + &unr_; belonging to a turning. ] Turning away from the sun; -- said of leaves, etc. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. apo- + Gr. &unr_; earth + &unr_; turning. ] (Bot.) Bending away from the ground; -- said of leaves, etc. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. dia` through, at variance + &unr_; earth + &unr_; turning. ] (Bot.) Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; through, at variance + &unr_; sun + &unr_; turning. ] (Bot.) Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, emmetropia. [ 1913 Webster ]

The normal or emmetropic eye adjusts itself perfectly for all distances. J. Le Conte. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Beyond or outside of the tropics. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Geotropism. ] (Biol.) Relating to, or showing, geotropism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Manifesting heliotropism; turning toward the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Hydrotrope. ] (Bot.) Turning or bending towards moisture, as roots. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Situated between or within the tropics. J. Morse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Within the tropics. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Is- + atropine. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from atropine, and isomeric with cinnamic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Is- + entropy + -ic. ] (Physics) Having equal entropy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Isentropic lines, lines which pass through points having equal entropy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Iso- + Gr. &unr_; a turning, fr. &unr_; to turn. ] (Physics) Having the same properties in all directions; specifically, equally elastic in all directions. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Chem.) having an affinity for lipids.
Syn. -- lipophilic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Neo- + tropical. ] (Geog. & Zool.) Belonging to, or designating, a region of the earth's surface which comprises most of South America, the Antilles, and tropical North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Gr. ny`x, nykto`s, night + &unr_; turning. ] (Bot.) Turning or bending at night into special positions. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Nyctitropic movements of plants usually consist in a folding or drooping of the leaves, the advantage being in lessening the radiation of heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Orthotropal. ] (Bot.) Having the longer axis vertical; -- said of erect stems. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Photo- + Gr. &unr_; to turn. ] (Bot.) of or pertaining to phototropism; exhibiting phototropism; same as Heliotropic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. pla`gios aslant + &unr_; to turn. ] (Bot.) Having the longer axis inclined away from the vertical line. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Nearly tropical. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Manifesting thermotropism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Atropine + -ic. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from atropine and certain other alkaloids, as a white crystalline substance slightly soluble in water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tropique, L. tropicus of or belonging to a turn, i. e., of the sun, Gr. &unr_; of the solstice, &unr_; (sc. &unr_;) the tropic or solstice, fr. &unr_; to turn. See Trope. ] 1. (Astron.) One of the two small circles of the celestial sphere, situated on each side of the equator, at a distance of 23° 28′, and parallel to it, which the sun just reaches at its greatest declination north or south, and from which it turns again toward the equator, the northern circle being called the Tropic of Cancer, and the southern the Tropic of Capricorn, from the names of the two signs at which they touch the ecliptic. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geog.) (a) One of the two parallels of terrestrial latitude corresponding to the celestial tropics, and called by the same names. (b) pl. The region lying between these parallels of latitude, or near them on either side. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brilliant flowers of the tropics bloom from the windows of the greenhouse and the saloon. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tropic bird (Zool.), any one of three species of oceanic belonging to the genus Phaethon, found chiefly in tropical seas. They are mostly white, and have two central tail feathers very long and slender. The yellow-billed tropic bird. Phaethon flavirostris (called also boatswain), is found on the Atlantic coast of America, and is common at the Bermudas, where it breeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. L. tropicus of turning, Gr. &unr_;. See Tropic, n. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the tropics; characteristic of, or incident to, the tropics; being within the tropics; as, tropical climate; tropical latitudes; tropical heat; tropical diseases. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ From Trope. ] Rhetorically changed from its exact original sense; being of the nature of a trope; figurative; metaphorical. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The foundation of all parables is some analogy or similitude between the tropical or allusive part of the parable and the thing intended by it. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tropic month. See Lunar month, under Month. --
Tropic year, the solar year; the period occupied by the sun in passing from one tropic or one equinox to the same again, having a mean length of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46.0 seconds, which is 20 minutes, 23.3 seconds shorter than the sidereal year, on account of the precession of the equinoxes. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a tropical manner; figuratively; metaphorically. [ 1913 Webster ]