BOREAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does boreal mean? 

• BOREAL (adjective)
  The adjective BOREAL has 3 senses:

1. relating to or marked by qualities associated with the north wind

2. toward or located in the north

3. comprising or throughout far northern regions

  Familiarity information: BOREAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BOREAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or marked by qualities associated with the north wind

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

north wind (a wind that blows from the north)

Derivation:

boreas (a wind that blows from the north)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Toward or located in the north

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

the boreal signs of the Zodiac

Pertainym:

north (the cardinal compass point that is at 0 or 360 degrees)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Comprising or throughout far northern regions

Synonyms:

boreal; circumboreal

Similar:

northern (situated in or coming from regions of the north)

 Context examples 

University of Arizona scientists trekked across the Americas: from moist, tropical jungles of Panama to the frigid boreal forests of Colorado to the wet temperate forests of the Pacific Northwest.

(From tropical to boreal ecosystems, temperature drives functioning, National Science Foundation)

Long-lived trees, such as pines from high elevations and other conifers found across the high-northern latitude boreal forests, can store carbon for many centuries.

(Amount of carbon stored in forests reduced as climate warms, University of Cambridge)

The work represents an unprecedented monitoring of soils and forests from hot tropical forests to cold boreal forests and fills important gaps in our understanding of how organisms in different levels of an ecosystem's food chain are linked via temperature, ecologist Brian Enquist said.

(From tropical to boreal ecosystems, temperature drives functioning, National Science Foundation)