subtropical etymology

Etymology

The word "subtropical" derives from two Latin roots:

  • "sub" (meaning "below" or "under")
  • "tropus" (meaning "turning point", referring to the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn)

Meaning

Subtropical refers to climatic conditions that occur in regions located between the tropics and the temperate zones. These regions experience warm temperatures year-round but with seasonal variations, including distinct wet and dry seasons.

Origin

The term "subtropical" was first coined in the early 19th century by the German geographer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt. He used it to describe the climatic conditions observed in regions bordering the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.

Subtropical regions typically lie between latitudes 23.5° and 40° north and south of the equator. They experience:

  • High temperatures in summer (often exceeding 30°C or 86°F)
  • Milder temperatures in winter (rarely dropping below freezing)
  • Abundant rainfall during the wet season (often associated with monsoons)
  • Prolonged periods of drought during the dry season
  • Vegetation that is a mix of tropical and temperate species

subtropical relate terms

  • tropical

    Etymology The word tropical comes from the Greek word tropos which means turning

  • tropic

    Etymology The word tropic comes from the Greek word tropos which means a turn Th

  • hypo

    Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

  • suggest

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymon true meaning and l

  • suspect

    Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

  • subject

    Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

  • magnolia

    Etymology The word magnolia is derived from the Latin genus name Magnolia which itself

  • abstract

    Etymology Origin Latin abstractus past participle of abstrahere meaning to draw away

  • school

    Etymology The word school originates from the Greek term skholē which originally m

  • judge

    Etymology Latin judex meaning judge Proto Indo European root dyeu or diu

  • knockoff

    Etymology Knockoff is a blend of two words Knock to imitate or copy something Of

  • traffic

    Etymology The word traffic comes from the Middle English word trafique which in turn

  • deacon

    Etymology Middle English dekene Old French diacre Latin diaconus Greek διάκον

  • Whig

    Etymology The term Whig is derived from the Scottish word whiggamore which original

  • science

    Etymology Latin scientia meaning knowledge Greek ἐπιστήμη epistēmē m

  • discipline

    Etymology Latin disciplina Meaning instruction teaching training Origin discer