aphelion
|a-phe-li-on|
/əˈfiːliən/
farthest point from the Sun
Etymology
'aphelion' originates from Modern Latin 'aphelium', ultimately from Greek 'apḗlion' (ἀπήλιον), where the prefix 'apo-' meant 'away from' and 'hēlios' meant 'sun'.
'aphelion' came into scientific English from Modern Latin 'aphelium' (used in astronomical Latin), which itself was formed from the ancient Greek word 'apḗlion' and later entered English usage from 17th–18th century scientific texts.
Initially, it meant 'the point in an orbit farthest from the sun', and over time this technical astronomical meaning has been retained in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is farthest from the Sun.
The Earth reaches aphelion in early July.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 02:52