perihelion

per·i·he·li·on Audio Help (pěr'ə-hē'lē-ən, -hēl'yən)

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.

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