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Definition of parhelion - 6 dictionary results

par⋅he⋅li⋅on

  [pahr-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn]
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–noun, plural -he⋅li⋅a  [-hee-lee-uh, -heel-yuh] . Meteorology.
a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands.
Also called sundog.
Compare paraselene.

Origin:
1640–50; alter. of L parēlion < Gk parlion, n. use of neut. of parlios beside the sun. See par-, helio-

Related forms:
par⋅he⋅lic, par⋅he⋅li⋅a⋅cal  [pahr-hi-lahy-uh-kuhl] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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par·he·li·on   (pär-hē'lē-ən, -hēl'yən)   
n.   pl. par·he·li·a (-hē'lē-ə, -hēl'yə)
A bright spot sometimes appearing on either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo.

[Latin parēlion, from Greek : para-, beside; see para-1 + hēlios, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]
par·he'lic (-hē'lĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Parhelion

Par*hel"ion\, n.; pl. Parhelia. [L. parelion, Gr. ?, ?; ? beside + ? the sun.] A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called an anthelion. Often several mock suns appear at the same time. Cf. Paraselene.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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parhelion 
1647, from Gk. parelion "a mock sun," from para- "beside" + helios "sun" (see sol).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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parhelion   (pär-hē'lē-ən)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural parhelia
A white spot appearing at times in the parhelic circle. White parhelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off of atmospheric ice crystals; colored parhelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals. Multiple parhelia can often be seen simultaneously. Compare anthelion.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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parhelion

atmospheric optical phenomenon appearing in the sky as luminous spots 22 on each side of the Sun and at the same elevation as the Sun. Usually, the edges closest to the Sun will appear reddish. Other colours are occasionally visible, but more often the outer portions of each spot appear whitish.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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