aphelion
[ uh-fee-lee-uhn ]
Part of Speech
noun
Origin + Etymology
alteration of modern Latin aphelium (by substitution of the Greek inflection -on ), from Greek aph' hēlion ‘from the sun'
Synonyms
- point of apoapsis; apoapsis
Antonyms
- perihelion
Definition
the point farthest from the sun in the path of an orbiting celestial body (such as a planet)
Example
The satellite arrived at the aphelion—the farthest point from the sun.
Usage Over Time
explore more words
Stay Connected
Sign up to receive the word of the day, sent straight to your inbox.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.
© 2021 by School Of Word Play