apogee

[ ap-uh-jee ]

noun

1. Astronomy. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, especially the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from the earth. Compare perigee.
2. the highest or most distant point; climax.

apogee

/ ˈæpəˌdʒiː /

noun

1. See perigee
   the point in its orbit around the earth when the moon or an artificial satellite is at its greatest distance from the earth Compare perigee
2. the highest point

apogee

/ ăp′ə-jē /

1. The point farthest from Earth's center in the orbit of the Moon or an artificial satellite.
2. The point in an orbit that is most distant from the body being orbited.
3. Compare aphelion

apogee

1. In astronomy , the point during the orbit of a satellite , such as the moon , at which it is farthest from the body being orbited. For planets in the solar system orbiting the sun , their farthest point from the sun is referred to as aphelion .

Derived Forms

• ˌapoˈgean, adjective

Other Words From

• apo·geal apo·gean apo·geic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apogee¹

1585–95; alteration (after French apogée ) of earlier apogaeum < Latin < Greek apógaion ( diástema ) off-earth (distance), neuter of apógaios (adj.), equivalent to apo- apo- + gáïos of the earth, derivative of gaîa, variant of gê the earth

Word History and Origins

Origin of apogee¹

C17: from New Latin apogaeum (influenced by French apogée ), from Greek apogaion, from apogaios away from the earth, from apo- + gaia earth

Example Sentences

Vital questions remain about whether the rocket engine can deliver enough power for the craft to reach apogee when fully loaded.

From The Daily Beast

As it falls from apogee, Unity uses a unique shuttlecock-like action to flip, on re-entry, from high speed flight to glide back to a landing.

From The Daily Beast

Congress must act swiftly to pass the Judiciary Act of 2021, the only way to effectively expand the court and restore balance and trust to the apogee of our democracy.

From Washington Blade

The liquid apogee engine acts as a “cone to capture” to help guide the probe which once it passes through the throat of the engine, expands to capture the client satellite.

From TechCrunch

A Vostok-K rocket sent the capsule, carrying Yuri Gagarin, into low orbit with an apogee of 327 km.

From Ars Technica

Along with Galileo, it represents Brecht at his epic apogee.

From The Daily Beast

We missed the apogee of the hippie revolution becoming something more serious.

From The Daily Beast

Winehouse laid down the track in her attic studio in 2009, at the apogee of her hard-partying ways.

From The Daily Beast

It reaches its apogee in Bodrum, since nowhere in Turkey is the produce and seafood fresher or more abundant.

From The Daily Beast

The apogee of all this dressing came on December 23, 1908, when he formed The Mark Twain Corporation.

From The Daily Beast

When the apogee of society is reached, attacks from pygmies seem more curious than offensive.

From Project Gutenberg

Hatfield village touches the extremity of wretchedness, just as Hatfield House marks the apogee of late feudal splendour.

From Project Gutenberg

The apogee of the Company had been reached: from this time its downfall was rapid.

From Project Gutenberg

The first renaissance obtained its apogee toward the year 1500.

From Project Gutenberg

This incident of the fan marked the apogee of the first stage of Nort's career in the office of the Star.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apex