arctic

UK: 'arctic', 'Arctic': /ˈɑːktɪk/

US: /ˈɑrktɪk, ˈɑrtɪk/

US: (ärk′tik or, esp. for 7, är′tik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

arc•tic /ˈɑrktɪk, ˈɑrtɪk/   adj. 

1. Geography (often: Arctic) of, relating to, or located at or near the North Pole:
   the arctic region.
2. Geography coming from the North Pole or the arctic region:
   an arctic wind.
3. Meteorology extremely cold;
   frigid:
   an arctic winter.
4. extremely cold in character:
   an arctic smile.
5. designed for use in extremely cold conditions:
   [before a noun] arctic clothing.

n. [proper noun* the + ~;
often: Arctic]

6. Geography the region lying north of the Arctic Circle.

arc•ti•cal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

arc•tic  (ärk′tik or, esp. for 7, är′tik), adj. 

1. Geography (often cap.) of, pertaining to, or located at or near the North Pole:
   the arctic region.
2. Geography coming from the North Pole or the arctic region:
   an arctic wind.
3. Meteorology characteristic of the extremely cold, snowy, windy weather north of the Arctic Circle;
   frigid;
   bleak:
   an arctic winter.
4. Clothing suitable for use in the arctic:
   arctic boots.
5. extremely cold in manner, atmosphere, etc.:
   a look of arctic disdain.

n. 

6. Geography (often cap.) 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. Clothing arctics, warm, waterproof overshoes.

• Latin
• Middle French artique
• Greek arktikós northern, literally, of the Bear, equivalent. to árkt(os) bear (see Ursa Major) + -ikos -ic; replacing Middle English artik
• Latin arcticus
• 1350–1400

arc′ti•cal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

arctic / ˈɑːktɪk/ adjective

1. of or relating to the Arctic: arctic temperatures
2. cold; freezing: the weather at Christmas was arctic

noun

1. (modifier) designed or suitable for conditions of extreme cold: arctic clothing

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos northern, literally: pertaining to (the constellation of) the Bear, from arktos bear

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Arctic / ˈɑːktɪk/ noun

1. the Arctic, Arctic Zone ⇒ the regions north of the Arctic Circle

adjective

1. of or relating to the regions north of the Arctic Circle