noun
solstice
SAHL-stis/ˈsɑːlstɪs/
Either of the two times each year when the sun is farthest north or south of the equator.
The diagram shows Earth at the two solstices.
Etymology
The roots picture the sun “standing still.” They name the apparent pause at its greatest distance from the equator, marking the yearly extremes of daylight.
In context
the path of the sun continues to lengthen until the summer Solstice the longest day of the year
More examples
- The celebration took place near the winter solstice.
- The diagram marks both solstices.
- We watched the sunrise on the solstice.
Forms
solstice · solstices
Similar words
- equinox
- At an equinox, day and night are roughly equal; a solstice marks an extreme of seasonal daylight.