'heliotropic' originates from Greek and New Latin, specifically the combining form 'heliotrop-' (from Greek 'helios' + 'tropos'), where 'helios' meant 'sun' and 'tropos' meant 'turn.'

'heliotropic' entered English via New Latin/Modern scientific formation (Latinized as 'heliotropicus') in the 19th century, built from Greek roots 'helios' and 'tropos' and modeled on formations like 'phototropic.'

Initially formed to describe the specific biological phenomenon of turning toward the sun, the term has retained that core meaning and is still used primarily in botanical and scientific contexts to mean 'turning toward the sun.'