Tropic of Cancer

n. The parallel of latitude 23°26′ north of the equator, the northern boundary of the Torrid Zone, and the most northerly latitude at which the sun can shine directly overhead.

trop•ic

(ˈtrɒp ɪk)

n. 1. a. either of two corresponding parallels of latitude on the terrestrial globe, one (tropic of Cancer) about 23½° N, and the other (tropic of Capricorn) about 23½° S of the equator, being the boundaries of the Torrid Zone. b. the tropics, the regions lying between and near these parallels of latitude; the Torrid Zone and neighboring regions. 2. either of two circles on the celestial sphere, one lying in the same plane as the tropic of Cancer, the other in the same plane as the tropic of Capricorn. adj. 3. of or pertaining to the tropics; tropical. [1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tropicus < Greek tropikós pertaining to a turn =tróp(os) turn + -ikos -ic]

-tropic

a combining form with the meanings “turned toward, with an orientation toward” that specified by the initial element (geotropic), “having an affinity for, affecting” what is specified (lipotropic), “affecting the activity of, maintaining” a specified organ (thyrotropic). Compare –trophic

Tropic of Cancer

The parallel of latitude 23°27′ north of the equator. It forms the boundary between the Torrid Zone and the North Temperate Zone.

Thesaurus

Noun

Tropic of Cancer - a line of latitude about 23 degrees to the north of the equator

Translations

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Cancer,

parallel of latitude at 23°30' north of the equator; it is the northern boundary of the tropicstropics,
also called tropical zone or torrid zone, all the land and water of the earth situated between the Tropic of Cancer at lat. 23 1-2°N and the Tropic of Capricorn at lat. 23 1-2°S.
..... Click the link for more information. . This parallel marks the farthest point north at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon; north of the parallel the sun appears less than 90° from the southern horizon at any day of the year. The sun reaches its vertical position over the Tropic of Cancer at about June 22, the summer solsticesolstice
[Lat.,=sun stands still], in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).
..... Click the link for more information. in the Northern Hemisphere. When the Tropic of Cancer was named, the sun was in the constellation CancerCancer
[Lat.,=the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Gemini and Leo; it is a constellation of the zodiac. It contains the star cluster Praesepe, but no bright stars.
..... Click the link for more information. at the time of the summer solstice.

Tropic of Cancer

[′träp·ik əv ′kan·sər] (astronomy) A small circle on the celestial sphere connecting points with declination 23.45° north of the celestial equator, the northernmost declination of the sun. (geodesy) A parallel of latitude 23.45° north of the equator, marking the northernmost latitude at which the sun reaches its zenith.

Tropic of Cancer

The northern parallel of declination, approximately 23°27' from the celestial equator, reached by the sun at its maximum declination, or the corresponding parallel on the earth. It is named for the sign of the zodiac during which the sun reached its maximum northerly declination.

Tropic of Cancer

novel noted for its sexual frankness and use of obscenity, long banned in the U.S. [Am. Lit.: Henry Miller Tropic of Cancer]See: Censorship