Advertisement
Advertisement
semimajor axis
[ sem-ee-mey-jer, sem-ahy-, sem-ee-, sem-ahy- ]
noun
- Geometry. one half the major axis of an ellipse.
- Astronomy. one half the major axis of the ellipse that one celestial body describes around another, as a planet around the sun or a satellite around a planet, equivalent to the mean distance between the two bodies.
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of semimajor axis1
Advertisement
Word of the Day
[gal-uh-maw-free ]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse