Ant*arc"tic (#), a. [OE. antartik, OF. antartique, F. antarctique, L. antarcticus, fr. Gr. ; + bear. See Arctic.]
Opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it, and applied especially to a circle, distant from the pole 23° 28&min;. Thus we say the antarctic pole, circle, ocean, region, current, etc.
© Webster 1913.