syzygy

American  

[siz-i-jee] / ˈsɪz ɪ dʒi /

noun

syzygies plural

1. Astronomy. an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun, the earth, and either the moon or a planet.

   Syzygy in the sun-earth-moon system occurs at the time of full moon and new moon.

2. Classical Prosody. a group or combination of two feet, sometimes restricted to a combination of two feet of different kinds.

3. any two related things, either alike or opposite.

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syzygy British  

/ ˈsɪzɪɡəl, sɪˈzɪdʒɪəl, ˌsɪzɪˈdʒɛtɪk, ˈsɪzɪdʒɪ /

noun

1. either of the two positions (conjunction or opposition) of a celestial body when sun, earth, and the body lie in a straight line

   the moon is at syzygy when full

2. (in classical prosody) a metrical unit of two feet

3. rare any pair, usually of opposites

4. biology the aggregation in a mass of certain protozoans, esp when occurring before sexual reproduction

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syzygy Scientific  

/ sĭz′ə-jē /

1. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the Sun.

2. 1. Either of the two points in the orbit of the Moon when it lies in a straight line with the Sun and Earth. A new moon syzygy occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth; a full moon syzygy occurs when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.

   2. The configuration of the Sun, Moon, and Earth when lying in a straight line.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• syzygial
  adjective
• syzygetically
  adverb
• syzygetic
  adjective
• syzygal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• syzygies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of syzygy

1650–60; < Late Latin syzygia < Greek syzygía union, pair, equivalent to sýzyg ( os ) yoked together ( sy- sy- + zyg-, base of zeugnýnai to yoke ¹ + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y ³

Explanation

If three celestial bodies in any solar system are lined up, you could say they’re aligned in syzygy. Often this applies to the sun, the moon, and the earth, but any planets can be in syzygy. To pronounce syzygy, accent the first syllable: “SIZ-eh-gee.” The most common occurrence of syzygy is when the sun, the moon, and the earth are lined up, which happens during the time of a new moon or a full moon. Syzygy can sometimes cause eclipses, and it also affects the tide. If you live in a different solar system, you can still use the word — it can apply to heavenly bodies anywhere that line up straight.

Example Sentences

Trevor Best, chief executive of Syzygy Plasmonics, a Houston-based startup whose chemical reactors run on renewable electricity, recently had a woman job candidate from out-of-state say she would not consider relocating to Texas.

From Reuters • Sep. 23, 2022

Named for a celestial phenomenon, Syzygy creates colorful and unique handmade tiles and mosaics.

From Washington Post • Oct. 4, 2018

Gilbert Sr. worked on Wall Street for more than 40 years, according to his profile on Wainscott's website, and he previously co-founded Syzygy Therapeutics, a biotech asset acquisition fund.

From Chicago Tribune • Jan. 6, 2015

Gilbert was a co-founder of Syzygy Therapeutics, a private equity biotech asset acquisition fund, and left it in 2011 to form Wainscott, the profile said.

From Reuters • Jan. 5, 2015

Syzygy, the point on the orbit of a planet, or the moon when it is in conjunction with, or in opposition to, the sun.

From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by Nuttall, P. Austin