What does tundra mean?
Tundra denotes a treeless biome found in polar regions and at high elevations above the tree line. Its terrain may be flat, rolling, or mountainous, and its climate is characterized by cold temperatures, a short growing season, and vegetation limited to grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and low shrubs. Arctic tundra is associated with permanently frozen subsoil, whereas alpine tundra occurs on mountain slopes and need not have continuous permafrost. The word is used chiefly in geography, ecology, travel writing, and descriptions of northern landscapes. It can evoke treeless emptiness, extreme cold, and the adaptations of plants and animals to severe conditions, though it is not simply a synonym for wasteland. In plural form, tundras can distinguish separate regions of the biome. Etymologically, the word entered English from Russian, which had borrowed it from Kildin Sámi, and it belongs to a wider northern Eurasian family of words connected with uplands or mountains.
nounA treeless biome of polar and high-altitude regions, characterized by cold temperatures, a short growing season, and low-growing vegetation. It may occur on permanently frozen ground or on alpine slopes above the tree line.
- A treeless polar or high-altitude biome characterized by cold conditions, a short growing season, and vegetation such as grasses, sedges, mosses, lichens, and low shrubs.
"Wild reindeer ranged across the Arctic tundra, where mosses and sedges softened the snow."
"Wild reindeer ranged across the Arctic tundra, where mosses and sedges softened the snow."
"Alpine tundra stretches above the tree line, where only specially adapted plants can survive the wind and cold."
The plural is used when referring to separate tundra regions or distinct types of tundra.
"Arctic and alpine tundras support highly specialized forms of plant and animal life."
The word tundra names one of Earth's coldest biomes, but its Sámi origin points to something less icy: uplands and mountains.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tundra come from?
Modern English borrowed tundra from Russian tundra, which was itself borrowed from Kildin Sámi tūŋdâr, a word associated with an upland tract or mountain region. Related forms include Finnish tunturi and Sámi words such as duottar and dünnar, reflecting a wider northern Eurasian word family connected with mountains or uplands.
How tundra is actually used
Tundra is usually treated as a mass noun when referring to the biome or a geographic region. The plural tundras may distinguish separate tundra regions or categories such as Arctic and alpine tundras.