solstice

noun

sol·stice ˈsäl-stəs

ˈsōl-,

ˈsȯl-

: either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year about June 21 and December 21

: the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 21 to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 21 to begin winter in the northern hemisphere

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In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice usually occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, the solstices are exactly the opposite. For several days around the time of the solstices, the sun's appearance on the horizon at sunrise and sunset seems to occur at the same spot, before it starts drifting to the north or south again. Solstice gets its shine from sol, the Latin word for "sun." The ancients added sol to -stit- (a participial stem of sistere, which means "to stand still") and came up with solstitium. Middle English speakers shortened solstitium to solstice in the 14th century.

Examples of solstice in a Sentence

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The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, while winter solstices mark the shortest. —

Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2024 Parts of the northern U.S., including Michigan, are losing more than three hours of daylight between June 20 (the summer solstice) and Sept. 22 (the fall equinox), per NOAA's handy Solar Calculator. —

Annalise Frank, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024 According to Sweatman, a birdlike creature with a V at its throat represents the summer solstice, the bird at that time thought to have represented the summer solstice constellation. —

News Desk, Artforum, 8 Aug. 2024 The shortest day of the year marks the winter solstice, the first day of winter. —

Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for solstice