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solstice
[ sol-stis, sohl- ]
noun
- Astronomy.
- either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator: about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point. Compare summer solstice, winter solstice.
- either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.
- a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.
solstice
/ ˈsɒlstɪs; sɒlˈstɪʃəl /
noun
- either the shortest day of the year ( winter solstice ) or the longest day of the year ( summer solstice )
- either of the two points on the ecliptic at which the sun is overhead at the tropic of Cancer or Capricorn at the summer and winter solstices
solstice
/ sŏl′stĭs,sōl′- /
- Either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun) reaches its greatest distance north or south of the celestial equator .
- ◆ The northernmost point of the Sun's path, called the summer solstice , lies on the Tropic of Cancer at 23°27′ north latitude.
- ◆ The southernmost point of the Sun's path, called the winter solstice , lies on the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°27′ south latitude.
- Either of the two corresponding moments of the year when the Sun is directly above either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22, marking the beginning of summer and winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere). The days on which a solstice falls have the greatest difference of the year between the hours of daylight and darkness, with the most daylight hours at the beginning of summer and the most darkness at the beginning of winter.
- Compare equinox
solstice
- The two occasions each year when the position of the sun at a given time of day does not seem to change direction. In the Northern Hemisphere , the summer solstice occurs around June 21 and is the longest day of the year. The sun stops getting higher in the sky, and the days begin to grow shorter. The winter solstice, which occurs around December 21, is the shortest day. The sun stops getting lower in the sky, and the days begin to grow longer.
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Derived Forms
- solstitial, adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of solstice1
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Example Sentences
The church groups make the displays, and the big solstice, I mean, Christmas, tree can be lit after all.
Next, Murillo opens a bottle of their Special Edition, which they distill every six months on the solstice.
As the winter solstice brought the start of the longest night of the year, it also seemed the darkest along West 60th Street.
So there we have it—pregnant virgins galore on this happy winter solstice celebration.
Jupiter in Taurus makes magical links to Neptune and the Sun on the Summer Solstice, Tuesday.
The estival solstice of Meton, the Athenian, corresponds with this day, in the 87th Olympiad.
The June sun was already shining at its solstice, and the time to leave for Icla's home had come.
It then turns towards the winter solstice, as far as Issus, and thence immediately makes a bend to the south to Phœnicia.
At winter solstice, the vertical rays strike 23½° S. latitude, the Tropic of Capricorn.
So, in Adelie Land, short spells of calm weather may be expected over a period of barely three months around the summer solstice.
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