tropical

tropical — adjective

1. Relating to the part of Earth that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tro

1.形容詞B1
釋義

Relating to the part of Earth that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, a region of the planet known for its warm climate.

例句

Haruto visited the tropical island of Bali and snorkelled among coral reefs during his break.

tropical + island

Tropical countries like Indonesia have only two seasons—wet and dry—instead of four.

tropical + countries

同義詞
  • equatorial

    Specifically refers to the area on or near the equator, which is a narrower band than the full tropical zone.

  • torrid

    A literary or technical term for the very hot region of the Earth; much less common in everyday speech.

反義詞
  • polar

    Relating to the cold regions near the North and South Poles.

  • arctic

    Relating to the extremely cold region around the North Pole.

文法句型

tropical + noun

用法筆記

Usually placed before the noun it describes. Common with nouns for places, plants, animals, and products found between the two tropics.

常見錯誤

❌Tropical penguins live near the South Pole.
✅Penguins that live near the South Pole would not survive in tropical waters.
💡The tropics are near the equator, not the poles.

2. Used to describe weather or temperatures that feel extremely hot and uncomfortab

2.形容詞B1
釋義

Used to describe weather or temperatures that feel extremely hot and uncomfortable, similar to the heat found in the world's hottest regions.

例句

Yasmin could not sleep because of the tropical heat in her apartment.

tropical heat

After a week of tropical temperatures, the city opened cooling centres.

tropical temperatures

同義詞
  • scorching

    Emphasises the burning feeling of extreme heat; more dramatic and informal.

  • sweltering

    Focuses on the uncomfortable, sweaty feeling of hot and humid weather.

  • blistering

    Very strong word for intense heat; often used in sports or weather reporting.

反義詞
  • cold

    A general opposite for temperature.

  • cool

    A milder opposite, describing pleasantly low temperatures.

文法句型

tropical + noun (heat / weather / temperatures)

be + tropical

用法筆記

Frequently used in weather forecasts and informal talk about very hot days. Can be used hyperbolically — a summer day in a cool country may be called tropical even though it is nowhere near the equator.

常見錯誤

❌It was a nice tropical day, about 25 degrees.
✅It was a scorching tropical day, with temperatures over 38 degrees.
💡'Tropical' suggests extreme heat, not pleasant warmth.

3. Describing a climate that stays hot and damp all year, with no winter frost, so

3.形容詞B2
釋義

Describing a climate that stays hot and damp all year, with no winter frost, so plants can grow continuously.

例句

The tropical climate of northern Australia supports rainforest all year.

tropical climate

In the Atlantic Ocean, tropical storms form when warm water heats the air above it.

tropical storms

同義詞
  • humid

    Focuses on the moisture in the air, without necessarily implying heat.

  • sultry

    Describes hot, damp weather that feels close and heavy; more literary.

  • steamy

    Informal word for very hot and wet conditions.

反義詞
  • arid

    Describes a dry climate with very little rainfall.

  • temperate

    Describes a climate with moderate temperatures and distinct seasons.

文法句型

tropical + noun (climate / storm / garden)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 refers to a year-round climate type (hot + humid + frost-free), while sense 2 describes temporary, subjective heat. Collocations are typically scientific or horticultural.

常見錯誤

❌The desert has a tropical climate because it is hot.
✅The desert has a dry climate; a tropical climate needs both heat and moisture.
💡A tropical climate is defined by heat AND humidity, not just heat alone.