tundra
TUN-druh
/ˈtʌn.drə/
A vast, flat, treeless Arctic region in which the subsoil is permanently frozen.
Describes cold, desolate arctic or alpine landscapes where permafrost prevents deep root growth.
The story behind the word. Originated from the Kildin Sami people of the Kola Peninsula, passed through Russian 'tundra', and entered English in the late 1600s to describe northern treeless barrens.
Word relationships
- permafrost zone: Permafrost zone refers specifically to frozen soil layer, while tundra describes the biome as a whole.
- rainforest: Rainforests are warm, wet, and densely vegetated, whereas tundras are freezing, dry, and treeless.
Commonly confused with
- taiga: Taiga is subarctic coniferous forest; tundra is treeless land further north where trees cannot grow.
Word family
- tundras (noun): Plural arctic biomes.
Collocations
- arctic tundra
- alpine tundra
- tundra ecosystem
- frozen tundra
Example sentences
- "Only lichens and low shrubs can survive the severe winds and frozen soil of the arctic tundra." Arctic Exploration
Memory hook
TUNdra is cold enough to freeze a TON of drumsticks solid. Tundra = freezing, treeless northern expanse.
When not to use
Do not use for hot deserts or low-latitude temperate grasslands.
Fun facts
- Despite extreme cold, the tundra receives very little precipitation, making it technically a cold desert.
Related words
Explore more words
permafrost, polar, desolate, bleak, wilderness, inhospitable
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