heliocentric

adjective

he·​lio·​cen·​tric ˌhē-lē-ō-ˈsen-trik How to pronounce heliocentric (audio)
1
: referred to or measured from the sun's center or appearing as if seen from it
2
: having or relating to the sun as center compare geocentric

Examples of heliocentric in a Sentence

Galileo proposed the heliocentric theory that the Earth goes around the sun.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This has essentially unleashed Harden, who's now free to employ his heliocentric Houston Rockets-era offense at this stage of the 2024-25 season. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 By November 25, the sun’s gravitational tugging will have overcome that of Earth’s, sending this mini moon back into its default heliocentric orbit with the rest of its Arjuna kin. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2024 Then, the space rock will return to a heliocentric orbit, which is an orbit around the sun. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024 In 1610, aided by the emergence of telescopes, Galileo Galilei famously observed Jupiter's four largest moons, thereby bolstering the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for heliocentric 

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heliocentric was in 1685

Dictionary Entries Near heliocentric

Cite this Entry

“Heliocentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heliocentric. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

heliocentric

adjective
he·​lio·​cen·​tric ˌhē-lē-ō-ˈsen-trik How to pronounce heliocentric (audio)
1
: referred to or measured from the sun's center or appearing as if seen from it
2
: having or relating to the sun as a center
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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