perigee

[ per-i-jee ]
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nounAstronomy.
  1. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, especially the moon, or of an artificial satellite at which it is nearest to the earth.

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Origin of perigee

1
First recorded in 1585–95; from French perigée, from New Latin perigēum, perigaeum, from Greek perígeion (sēmeîon) “perigee,” literally “boundary, limit (surrounding the earth),” equivalent to neuter of perígeios “surrounding the earth,” (peri- peri- + -geios, adjective derivative of gaîa, gê “the earth”)

Other words from perigee

  • per·i·ge·al, per·i·ge·an, adjective

Words Nearby perigee

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How to use perigee in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perigee

perigee

/ (ˈpɛrɪˌdʒiː) /


noun
  1. the point in its orbit around the earth when the moon or an artificial satellite is nearest the earth: Compare apogee (def. 1)

Origin of perigee

1
C16: via French from Greek perigeion, from peri- + gea earth

Derived forms of perigee

  • perigean or perigeal, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for perigee

perigee

[ pĕrə-jē ]


  1. The point nearest Earth's center in the orbit of the Moon or an artificial satellite.

  2. The point in an orbit that is nearest to the body being orbited. Compare apogee perihelion.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for perigee

perigee

[ (per-uh-jee) ]


The point in the orbit of a satellite at which it is closest to its parent body. (Compare apogee.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.