Nearby Words
noun, plural a·phe·li·a 
[uh-fee-lee-uh, uh-feel-yuh, ap-hee-lee-uh] .
[uh-fee-lee-uh, uh-feel-yuh, ap-hee-lee-uh] . Astronomy. the point in the orbit of a planet or a comet at which it is farthest from the sun.
Compare perihelion.
Origin:
1650–60; Hellenized form of Neo-Latin aphēlium < Greek *aphḗlion (diástēma) off-sun (distance), neuter of *aphḗlios (adj.), equivalent to ap- ap-2 + hḗli(os) sun + -os adj. suffix. See apogee
1650–60; Hellenized form of Neo-Latin aphēlium < Greek *aphḗlion (diástēma) off-sun (distance), neuter of *aphḗlios (adj.), equivalent to ap- ap-2 + hḗli(os) sun + -os adj. suffix. See apogee
Related forms
a·phe·li·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To aphelion
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Aphelion
is always a great word to know.
So is planet. Does it mean:
| any of the nine large heavenly bodies revolving about the sun and shining by reflected light: a similar body revolving about a star other than the sun |
| a cloud of interstellar gas and dust that appears hazy, or fuzzy, and extended in a telescope view |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| aphelion (æpˈhiːlɪən, əˈfiː-) | |
| —n , pl -lia | |
| Compare perihelion the point in its orbit when a planet or comet is at its greatest distance from the sun | |
| [C17: from New Latin aphēlium (with pseudo-Greek ending -ion) from | |
| ap'helian | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
aphelion
"point farthest from the sun" (of a celestial body's orbit), 1670s, from Mod.L. aphelium, the modern form an alteration by Johannes Kepler, based on Gk. apo heliou "away from the sun," from apo "away from" + heliou, gen. of helios "sun" (see sol). The whole was formed on the
EXPANDmodel of Ptolemaic apogæum (see apogee) to reflect the new helio-centric model of the universe.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
aphelion (ə-fē'lē-ən) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) The point at which an orbiting body, such as a planet or comet, is farthest away from the Sun. Compare apogee, perihelion. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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