solstice
noun
Either of two times in the year when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the longest and shortest days.
Etymology
From Latin solstitium, from sol "sun" + sistere "to stand still," because the sun appears to pause before reversing direction.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere."
- 2.
"Ancient peoples built monuments aligned with the solstices."
- 3.
"Celebrations of the winter solstice date back thousands of years."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland were built to align with the solstices over 5,000 years ago. The summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge still draws thousands of visitors each year.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 8 letters (S, O, L, S, T, I, C, E)
Scrabble Value: 10 points
Tip: Look for common letter combinations like "SO" at the start of words.
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