oceanic

adjective oce·an·ic \ ˌō-shē-ˈa-nik \

Updated on: 1 Dec 2017

Definition of oceanic

1 a : of or relating to the ocean

b : occurring in or frequenting the ocean and especially the open sea as distinguished from littoral or neritic waters

2 : vast, great

3 Oceanic , linguistics : relating to, belonging to, or characterizing a subfamily of the Austronesian family of languages that is spoken in Polynesia and most of the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia

Examples of oceanic in a Sentence

the theory that ancient mariners took advantage of oceanic currents to roam the seas on primitive rafts
during his solo crossing of the Atlantic he managed to avoid the fierce oceanic storms that rage in those tropical latitudes

Recent Examples of oceanic from the Web

Unlike deep sea fish, crabs and scorpions can walk on land, so Pisces’ partnership with these fellow water signs can be simultaneously emotionally rewarding and extremely grounding for oceanic Pisces.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "Zodiac Sign Love Compatibility: Which Signs to Date — and Which to (Maybe) Avoid," 27 Oct. 2017
This is thanks to thick cloud cover, oceanic air and all that accompanies them.

— ian livingston, Washington Post, "PM Update: A few showers possible this evening; low clouds, drizzle and some fog persist into Friday," 12 Oct. 2017
Magma rushed up to fill in the gap, just like when plates separate at a mid-oceanic ridge.

— ken jennings, CNT, "How the Horn of Africa Will Become an Island," 2 Oct. 2017
The main gallery is painted a deep blue-black that here glows ultraviolet, there oceanic teal.

— laura jacobs, WSJ, "‘Expedition: Fashion From the Extreme’ Review: Survival Couture," 19 Sep. 2017
To those, the scientists added a third constraint: oceanic pH. Carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans, lowering their pH in the process.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "New study: We’re outpacing the most radical climate event we know of," 30 Aug. 2017
Soon, the landscape turned more oceanic, with cliffs hemmed by pine and leafy forests.

— sylvie bigar, miamiherald, "St. Lawrence is part tame river, part wild sea | Miami Herald," 4 Nov. 2017
Plus, one editor breaks down why diving to see the ocean's wonders is not only an awe-inspiring experience but an important one, as coral and oceanic diversity continues to be threatened by rising sea temperatures.

— cnt editors, CNT, "Why We Travel to Be Near Water: Travelogue Podcast," 25 Aug. 2017
La Niña is an oceanic pattern of cooling that is the flip side of the Alaska-warming El Nino.

— alex demarban, Alaska Dispatch News, "Signs point to another La Niña event and a cooler-than-normal Alaska winter," 20 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oceanic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of oceanic

1656

oceanic Synonyms

Synonyms

maritime, marine, pelagic

Antonyms

bantam, bitty, diminutive, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little bitty, micro, microminiature, microscopic (also microscopical), midget, miniature, minuscule, minute, pocket, pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee

Related Words

abyssal, deep-sea, deepwater, saltwater; benthic; admiralty, nautical, naval; undersea, underwater; hydrographic, oceanographic (also oceanographical)

Near Antonyms

littoral

OCEANIC Defined for Kids

oceanic

adjective oce·an·ic \ ˌō-shē-ˈa-nik \

Definition of oceanic for Students

: of or relating to the ocean

Learn More about oceanic

See words that rhyme with oceanic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oceanic Spanish Central: Translation of oceanic Nglish: Translation of oceanic for Spanish speakers

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