word-forming element meaning "that which turns," from Greek tropos "a turn, direction, course, way," from PIE root *trep- "to turn."
Entries linking to -trope
*trep-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to turn."
It forms all or part of: apotropaic; atropine; Atropos; contrive; entropy; heliotrope; isotropic; psychotropic; retrieve; trope; -trope; trophy; tropic; tropical; tropism; troposphere; troubadour; zoetrope.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit trapate "is ashamed, confused," properly "turns away in shame;" Greek trepein "to turn," tropos "a turn, direction, course," trope "a turning;" Latin trepit "he turns."
allotrope n.
"a form in which an element having the property of allotropy may exist," 1847, a back-formation from allotropy "variation of physical properties without change of substance," from Greek allotropos "in another manner;" see allo- "different" + -trope "way, manner." Diamond is an allotrope of carbon. Related: Allotropic.