perihelion

American  

[per-uh-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn] / ˌpɛr əˈhi li ən, -ˈhil jən /

noun

Astronomy.

perihelia plural

1. the point in the orbit of a planet or comet at which it is nearest to the sun.

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perihelion British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈhiːlɪən /

noun

1. the point in its orbit when a planet or comet is nearest the sun Compare aphelion

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perihelion Scientific  

/ pĕr′ə-hē′lē-ən /

1. The point at which an orbiting object, such as a planet or a comet, is closest to the Sun.

2. Compare aphelion perigee

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• perihelial
  adjective
• perihelian
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• perihelia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of perihelion

1660–70; < Greek peri- peri- + hḗli ( os ) sun + -on neuter noun suffix, on the model of perigee; earlier in the New Latin form perihelium

Compare meaning

How does perihelion compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aphelion vs. perihelion

Example Sentences

At Perihelion Brewery, Lungwitz heard people in front of her in line worrying that the Jefferson Park garlic could trip skaters up.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2024

When his Liver was at Perihelion, he had a Complexion suggesting an Alligator-Pear, and his Eye-Balls should have been taken out and burnished.

From Ade's Fables by Ade, George

When his Liver was at Perihelion, he had a Complexion suggesting an Alligator Pear, and his Eye-Balls should have been taken out and burnished.

From Ade's Fables by McCutcheon, John T.

Perihelion, that point in the orbit of a planet, or comet, in which it is nearest to the sun.

From A Manual of the Antiquity of Man by MacLean, J. P. (John Patterson)