arctic

[ahrk-tik or especially for 7, ahr-tik] /ˈɑrk tɪk or especially for 7, ˈɑr tɪk/
adjective
1.
(often initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or located at or near the North Pole:
the arctic region.
2.
coming from the North Pole or the arctic region:
an arctic wind.
3.
characteristic of the extremely cold, snowy, windy weather north of the Arctic Circle; frigid; bleak:
an arctic winter.
4.
suitable for use in the arctic:
arctic boots.
5.
extremely cold in manner, atmosphere, etc.:
a look of arctic disdain.
noun
6.
(often initial capital letter) the region lying north of the Arctic Circle or of the northernmost limit of tree growth; the polar area north of the timber line.
7.
arctics, warm, waterproof overshoes.
Origin
1350-1400; < Latin arcticus < Greek arktikós northern, literally, of the Bear, equivalent to árkt(os) bear (see Ursa Major) + -ikos -ic; replacing Middle English artik < Middle French artique < Latin
Related forms
arctically, adverb
superarctic, adjective
Can be confused
antarctic, arctic.
British Dictionary definitions for arctic

arctic

/ˈɑːktɪk/
adjective
1.
of or relating to the Arctic: arctic temperatures
2.
(informal) cold; freezing: the weather at Christmas was arctic
noun
3.
(US) a high waterproof overshoe with buckles
4.
(modifier) designed or suitable for conditions of extreme cold: arctic clothing
Word Origin
C14: from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos northern, literally: pertaining to (the constellation of) the Bear, from arktos bear

Arctic

/ˈɑːktɪk/
noun
1.
the Arctic, Arctic Zone, the regions north of the Arctic Circle
adjective
2.
of or relating to the regions north of the Arctic Circle
Word Origin and History for arctic

Arctic

adj.

late 14c., artik, from Old French artique, from Medieval Latin articus, from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos "of the north," literally "of the (constellation) Bear," from arktos "bear; Ursa Major; the region of the north," the Bear being a northerly constellation. From *rkto-, the usual Indo-European base for "bear" (cf. Avestan aresho, Armenian arj, Albanian ari, Latin ursus, Welsh arth); see bear (n.) for why the name changed in Germanic. The -c- was restored from 1550s. As a noun, "the Arctic regions," from 1560s.

arctic in Culture

Arctic definition


Region in the northernmost area of the Earth, centered on the North Pole.

Note: The weather of the Arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Note: The Arctic has been the object of much exploration by air, land, and sea. The shortest distance by plane between continents in the Northern Hemisphere is often over the Arctic.
arctic in Technology

language, music
A real-time functional language, used for music synthesis.
["Arctic: A Functional Language for Real-Time Control", R.B. Dannenberg, Conf Record 1984 ACM Symp on LISP and Functional Prog, ACM].
(1995-01-16)