mean distance

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. the arithmetic mean of the greatest and least distances of a planet from the sun, used in stating the size of an orbit; the semimajor axis.

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mean distance British  

noun

1. the average of the greatest and least distances of a celestial body from its primary

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Etymology

Origin of mean distance

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

That does not mean distance learning is a failure.

From Washington Times

By feel, I mean distance control: the ability to look at a putt, make a few practice strokes, and then put the right amount of hit on it.

From Golf Digest

The authority, in its defense, points out that the current rate remains a staggering improvement from 1981, when the mean distance between failures was 7,000 miles.

From New York Times

Ms. Hakim said the reliability of trains, known as mean distance between failure, had dropped because it had reached an artificially high level when a large order of new subway cars arrived in 2010.

From New York Times

One AU, or astronomical unit, is the mean distance from the sun to Earth.

From Scientific American