geostrophic

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US/d͡ʒɪ.əˈstɹoʊ.fɪk/US/-ˈstɹɔ.fɪk/

adjective

Relating to the balance, in the atmosphere, between the horizontal Coriolis forces and the horizontal pressure forces.

OriginAncient Greek γεω- →
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectivegeostrophic (comparative more geostrophic, superlative most geostrophic)

comparative more geostrophic · superlative most geostrophic

  1. climatologyRelating to the balance, in the atmosphere, between the horizontal Coriolis forces and the horizontal pressure forces.
  2. climatologyRelating to or arising from the deflective force exerted on the atmosphere due to the rotation of the earth.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγεω-“earth-”
  2. Englishgeostrophic

From Ancient Greek γεω- (geō-, “earth-”) + στροφή (strophḗ, “a turn, bend, twist”) + -ic.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

geostrophic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geostrophic

MLA

“geostrophic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geostrophic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “geostrophic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geostrophic.

Source: geostrophic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.