of or relating to the Arctic: arctic temperatures cold; freezing: the weather at Christmas was arctic
- (modifier)
designed or suitable for conditions of extreme cold: arctic clothing
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
arc•tic /ˈɑrktɪk, ˈɑrtɪk/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [proper noun* the + ~;
often: Arctic]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Geography(often: Arctic) of, relating to, or located at or near the North Pole: the arctic region.
- Geographycoming from the North Pole or the arctic region: an arctic wind.
- Meteorologyextremely cold;
frigid:an arctic winter. - extremely cold in character:an arctic smile.
- designed for use in extremely cold conditions:[before a noun]arctic clothing.
n. [proper noun* the + ~;
often: Arctic]
- Geographythe region lying north of the Arctic Circle.
arc•tic
(ärk′tik or, esp. for 7, är′tik),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
arc′ti•cal•ly, adv.
- Geography(often cap.) of, pertaining to, or located at or near the North Pole:the arctic region.
- Geographycoming from the North Pole or the arctic region:an arctic wind.
- Meteorologycharacteristic of the extremely cold, snowy, windy weather north of the Arctic Circle;
frigid;
bleak:an arctic winter. - Clothingsuitable for use in the arctic:arctic boots.
- extremely cold in manner, atmosphere, etc.:a look of arctic disdain.
n.
- 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. - 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
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- the Arctic, Arctic Zone ⇒
the regions north of the Arctic Circle
of or relating to the regions north of the Arctic Circle