Perihelion

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Perihelion \Per`i*hel"ion\, Perihelium \Per`i*he"li*um\, n.; pl.
     {Perihelia}. [NL., fr. Gr. peri` about, near + "h`lios the
     sun.] (Astron.)
     That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest
     to the sun; -- opposed to {aphelion}.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  perihelion
       n : periapsis in solar orbit; the point in the orbit of a planet
           or comet where it is nearest to the sun [ant: {aphelion}]
       [also: {perihelia} (pl)]