Apophis

[ uh-poh-fis ]

noun

, Egyptian Mythology.

1. a demon serpent of darkness whom Ra, as sun god, destroys every morning at dawn.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Apophis¹

< Greek Ápophis < Egyptian; Apepi

Example Sentences

The craft, now named OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer, or OSIRIS-APEX, is on its way to a peanut-shaped asteroid named Apophis.

From Los Angeles Times

Though its return capsule is now back on Earth, the probe keeps on flying, toward another asteroid called Apophis.

From Scientific American

Now named OSIRIS-APophis EXplorer, or OSIRIS-APEX, the craft is headed to Apophis, a peanut-shaped asteroid that, for a little while, seemed more likely to smash disastrously into Earth than any known object in the solar system.

From Los Angeles Times

Though that possibility has been decisively ruled out, Apophis is still on track to come closer to Earth than has any object of its size in recorded history.

From Los Angeles Times

Apophis is a stony asteroid, the most common type of potentially hazardous asteroid.

From Los Angeles Times