noun
tundra
TUN-druh/ˈtʌndrə/
A cold, treeless region with low-growing plants and often permanently frozen subsoil.
Low vegetation covers the treeless tundra above frozen subsoil.
Etymology
Saami tundar is said to mean an elevated wasteland or high-topped hill, alternatively a marshy plain. English uses the landscape name for the nearly treeless Arctic region with frozen subsoil.
In context
much warmer than the Arctic tundra they came from these are the Caribou wintering grounds
More examples
- The expedition crossed a stretch of tundra.
- Summer thaw softened the tundra’s surface.
- Few tall trees can grow on the tundra.
Forms
tundra
Similar words
- taiga
- Taiga is a northern coniferous forest; tundra is largely treeless with low vegetation.
- steppe
- Steppe is dry grassland; tundra is defined especially by cold conditions and short growing seasons.