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Solstice

/ˈsɒl.stɪs/

One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.

📖 Definitions of "Solstice"

noun
  1. 1

    One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Solstice"

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WordDefinition
winternounTraditionally the fourth of the four seasons, typically regarded as spanning either the period between the winter solstice to the spring equinox, or the months of December, January, and February in temperate and polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the months of June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the time when the sun is lowest in the sky, resulting in short days, and the time of year with the lowest atmospheric temperatures for the region.
midwinternounThe middle of winter.
winter solsticenoun(astronomy) The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun.
summer solsticenoun(astronomy) The moment when the Earth is in that point of its orbit where the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined toward the sun.
june solsticethe solstice on Earth that occurs annually between 20 and 22 June according to the Gregorian calendar.
equinoxnounOne of two times in the year (one in March and the other in September) when the length of the day and the night are equal, which occurs when the sun is directly overhead at the equator; this marks the beginning of spring in one hemisphere and autumn in the other.
december solsticeThe December solstice, also known as the southern solstice, is the solstice that occurs each December – typically on 21 December, but may vary by one day in either direction according to the Gregorian calendar.
northern solsticenounJune solstice, when the sun reaches the northernmost point of the sky.
southern solsticenounDecember solstice, when the sun reaches the southernmost point of the sky.
solstitial colurenoun(astronomy) A meridian on the celestial sphere where the sun crosses it on solstices.
equinoxenounMisspelling of equinox. [One of two times in the year (one in March and the other in September) when the length of the day and the night are equal, which occurs when the sun is directly overhead at the equator; this marks the beginning of spring in one hemisphere and autumn in the other.]
vernal pointnounThe point on the ecliptic where the sun crosses from the southern celestial hemisphere to the northern, which occurs at the (northern) vernal equinox; less commonly, either this point or the opposite point of crossing from north to south.
equinoctial colurenoun(astronomy) A meridian on the celestial sphere where the sun crosses it on equinoxes.
southward equinoxnounThe September equinox: the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator while heading southward, occurring on September 22–23. That would be autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere and vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere.
vernal equinoxnoun(astronomy) The moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator while tilting towards the observer, taking place in March in the northern hemisphere (March equinox) and September in the southern hemisphere (September equinox).
autumnal equinoxnoun(astronomy) The moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator while tilting away from the observer, taking place in September in the northern hemisphere and March in the southern hemisphere.
first point of cancernoun(astronomy) A point on the celestial sphere where the sun reaches the northernmost point on the June solstice.
september equinoxThe (or southward equinox) the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward.
colurenoun(astronomy) Either of two great circles (meridians) that intersect at the poles and either the equinoxes or solstices.
solar daynoun(astronomy) One day of solar time; the time in which a planet such as Earth apparently rotates once around its axis relative to the Sun; the time taken for the Sun to seem to be in the same place in the sky twice (on Earth about 24 hours as an average - the length of solar day is not constant throughout the year)

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