boreal

adjective

bo·​re·​al ˈbȯr-ē-əl 

1

: of, relating to, or located in northern regions

boreal waters

2

: of, relating to, or comprising the northern biotic area characterized especially by dominance of coniferous forests

Examples of boreal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike tundras, the somewhat milder boreal forests are more often experiencing strong carbon uptake due to longer summers, offsetting the non-summer emissions. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

In 2021, roughly a thousand homes burned near Boulder, Colo. Image Image Image And from the boreal forests of Canada to the redwood groves of Oregon, large fires have been incinerating vast areas of wilderness. —David Gelles, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Canada’s nearly 700-million-acre boreal forest, which is about 28 percent of the world’s boreal zone, stores carbon, purifies air and water and acts as a climate regulator. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2025

Canada lynx are elusive wildcats that live in cold boreal forests and prey mainly on snowshoe hares. —Rachel Dobkin, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English boriall, from Late Latin borealis, from Latin boreas north wind, north, from Greek, from Boreas

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

boreal

adjective

bo·​re·​al ˈbō(ə)r-ē-əl 

ˈbȯ(ə)r-

: of, relating to, or located or growing in northern or mountainous regions