-tropic

See also: tropic, Tropic, and tropić

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek τροπικός (tropikós, “of or pertaining to a turn or change; or the solstice; or a trope or figure; tropic; tropical; etc.”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “turn; solstice; trope”). Compare trope and tropic.

Suffix

-tropic

1. (sciences) Turning or changing.
2. (sciences) Affecting or attracted to the thing specified.

   ‎psycho- (“mind”) + ‎-tropic (“altering”) → ‎psychotropic (“mind-altering”)

Usage notes

Frequently confused with -trophic (“growth, development; nutrition”), which is instead from Ancient Greek τροφικός (trophikós, “pertaining to food or nourishment”), from τροφή (trophḗ, “food”).^[1] Compare tropic hormone (drives other glands) and trophic hormone (affects growth) and tropo-/tropho-.

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -tropic

Related terms

• trope, -trope
• tropic
• tropism
• -tropism
• tropo-
• -tropy

Translations

turning or changing

Irish: -trópach

affecting or attracted to the thing specified

Irish: -trópach

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Irish: -trópach Italian: -tropico, -tropo (it) Sicilian: -tròpicu, -tropu

References

1. “Trophic vs. Tropic”, Werner Steinberg, JAMA, May 3, 1952, 149(1), p. 82, doi:10.1001/jama.1952.02930180084027.

Anagrams

• Pictor, protic