Antarctica

[ant-ahrk-ti-kuh, -ahr-ti-] /æntˈɑrk tɪ kə, -ˈɑr tɪ-/

noun

the continent surrounding the South Pole: almost entirely covered by an ice sheet. About 5,000,000 sq. mi. (12,950,000 sq. km).

Also called Antarctic Continent.

British Dictionary definitions for Antarctica

Antarctica

/æntˈɑːktɪkə/

noun

a continent around the South Pole: consists of an ice-covered plateau, 1800–3000 m (6000 ft to 10 000 ft) above sea level, and mountain ranges rising to 4500 m (15 000 ft) with some volcanic peaks; average temperatures all below freezing and human settlement is confined to research stations. All political claims to the mainland are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959

Word Origin and History for Antarctica

continent name attributed to Scottish cartographer John George Bartholomew (1860-1920), who used it on a map published 1887. From antarctic (q.v.). Hypothetical southern continents had been imagined since antiquity; first sighting of Antarctica by Europeans probably was 1820 (Lazarev and Bellingshausen). Also cf. Antipodes.

Antarctica in Culture

Antarctica definition

Continent surrounding the South Pole, located almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle. It is covered by an ice cap up to thirteen thousand feet thick.

Note: Antarctica is characterized by extremely low temperatures.

Note: In 1911, Roald Amundsen became the first explorer to reach the South Pole, followed shortly thereafter by Robert Scott.