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perihelion

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per⋅i⋅he⋅li⋅on

  [per-uh-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn]
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–noun, plural -he⋅li⋅a  [-hee-lee-uh, -heel-yuh] . Astronomy.
the point in the orbit of a planet or comet at which it is nearest to the sun.
Compare aphelion.

Origin:
1660–70; < Gk peri- peri- + hli(os) sun + -on neut. n. suffix, on the model of perigee; earlier in the NL form perihelium

Related forms:
per⋅i⋅he⋅li⋅al, per⋅i⋅he⋅li⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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per·i·he·li·on   (pěr'ə-hē'lē-ən, -hēl'yən)   


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n.   pl. per·i·he·li·a (-hē'lē-ə, -hēl'yə)
The point nearest the sun in the orbit of a planet or other celestial body.

[Alteration of New Latin perihēlium : peri- + Greek hēlios, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]
per'i·he'li·al (-hē'lē-əl, -hēl'yəl) 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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Word Origin & History

perihelion 
"point at which a celestial body is nearest the Sun," 1690, coined in Mod.L. (perihelium) by Kepler (1596) from Gk. peri "near" + helios "sun" (see sol), and subsequently re-Grecianized.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary
perihelion   (pěr'ə-hē'lē-ən)  Pronunciation Key 


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The point at which an orbiting object, such as a planet or a comet, is closest to the Sun. Compare aphelion, perigee.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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