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Glite Dictionary
subtropical

subtropical

7 4.6
A region just north or south of the tropics with hot, humid summers and mild winters
  • adjective
  • /sʌbˈtrɒpɪkəl/
translation icon : subtropical
  • The subtropical region experiences heavy rainfall during the summer months, contributing to its lush vegetation.
  • subtropical forest
  • subtropical climate
  • subtropical regions

So they are indeed subtropical creatures.

Examples

  • The climate in southern Florida is characterized by warm temperatures and a subtropical atmosphere.

  • The Guarani live in one of the last great subtropical forests of South America's southern cone.

    Academic text (1996)

  • So they are indeed subtropical creatures.

    Danny Jones

  • SAAVIK: Sector 3, subtropical vegetation.

    Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

  • Another probable change for which we should begin preparing is the projected drying of subtropical areas.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Litchi is widely distributed throughout subtropical and tropical regions.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The Daytona Beach hole reflects the flat terrain and subtropical vegetation of central Florida.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Comfortable homes with cross ventilation and cathedral ceilings keep subtropical heat away from living spaces without noisy air conditioning units.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Climate is humid subtropical with hot, humid summers accompanied by a monsoon season followed by cool winters.

    Academic text (2015)

  • "We collected this moth on climbing fern in subtropical Queensland, in eastern Australia," says Goolsby.

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

semitropical
vssubtropical
1 5.8

A warm, humid climate that is just outside the hottest parts of the Earth

is hotter in summer and has milder winters than that climate
subtropic
vssubtropical
5.5

A region to the north and south of the tropics with warm or mild weather

is specific to areas with hot humid summers and mild winters
semitropic
vssubtropical
7.9

Having a climate like the area just outside the tropics with mild winters and hot summers

is hotter and more humid in summer than this resembling climate

Antonyms

polar
121 4.2

Relating to the North or South Pole and the very cold regions there

How Warm

tropical
144 3.4
subtropical
7 4.6
warm
∞ 1.0
temperate
14 3.9
cold
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

subtropical positive

Morphology

subtropical = tropical (transparent) = sub + tropical

The prefix 'sub-' combined with the clear adjective 'tropical' yields the meaning 'near or less than tropical', which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Subtropical comes from sub- meaning 'below' and tropic meaning 'near the equator', so it literally means the area 'just below the tropics' and that is why these regions have hot, humid summers and generally mild winters.