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Definition of perigee - 4 dictionary results

per⋅i⋅gee

  [per-i-jee]
Use perigee in a Sentence
–noun Astronomy.
the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of an artificial satellite at which it is nearest to the earth.

Origin:
1585–95; < F perigée < NL perigēum, perigaeum < Gk perígeion (sēmeîon limit), neut. of perígeios near, of the earth, equiv. to peri- peri- + -geios, adj. deriv. of gaîa, gê the earth

Related forms:
per⋅i⋅ge⋅al, per⋅i⋅ge⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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per·i·gee   (pěr'ə-jē)   


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n.  

  1. The point nearest the earth's center in the orbit of the moon or a satellite.

  2. The point in any orbit nearest to the body being orbited.


[French périgée, from Medieval Latin perigēum, from Late Greek perigeion : Greek peri-, peri- + Greek gē, earth.]
per'i·ge'al (-jē'əl), per'i·ge'an (-jē'ən) 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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Cultural Dictionary

perigee [(per-uh-jee)]

The point in the orbit of a satellite at which it is closest to its parent body. (Compare apogee.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

perigee 
"point at which a celestial body is nearest the Earth," 1594, from Mod.L. perigeum (15c.), from Late Gk. peregeion, used by Ptolemy as a noun, properly neut. of adj. perigeios "near the earth," from peri ges, from peri "near" + ges, gen. of ge "earth."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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