pericenter
|per-i-cen-ter|
🇺🇸
/ˈpɛrɪsɛntər/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɛrɪsɛntə/
closest point to center
Etymology
'pericenter' originates from Greek and Latin components, specifically the Greek prefix 'peri-' and the Greek word 'kentron' (via Latin 'centrum'), where 'peri-' meant 'around' and 'kentron/centrum' meant 'center'.
'pericenter' changed from Modern Latin/Medieval French combining forms such as 'peri-' + 'centre' (French 'péricentre') and eventually became the modern English word 'pericenter' used in scientific contexts.
Initially, it meant a notion of 'around the center' or 'about the center', but over time it evolved into its current technical meaning of 'the point in an orbit closest to the central body'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the point in an orbit of an object at which it is closest to the body it is orbiting (general term; specific forms include perigee for Earth, perihelion for the Sun).
The satellite reached its pericenter as it passed closest to Earth.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/02 10:56