solstice

[ sol-stis, sohl- ]

noun

1. Astronomy.
   1. either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator: about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point. Compare summer solstice, winter solstice.
   2. either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.
2. a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.

solstice

/ ˈsɒlstɪs; sɒlˈstɪʃəl /

noun

1. either the shortest day of the year ( winter solstice ) or the longest day of the year ( summer solstice )
2. either of the two points on the ecliptic at which the sun is overhead at the tropic of Cancer or Capricorn at the summer and winter solstices

solstice

/ sŏl′stĭs,sōl′- /

1. Either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun) reaches its greatest distance north or south of the celestial equator .
2. ◆ The northernmost point of the Sun's path, called the summer solstice , lies on the Tropic of Cancer at 23°27′ north latitude.
3. ◆ The southernmost point of the Sun's path, called the winter solstice , lies on the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°27′ south latitude.
4. Either of the two corresponding moments of the year when the Sun is directly above either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. The summer solstice occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22, marking the beginning of summer and winter in the Northern Hemisphere (and the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere). The days on which a solstice falls have the greatest difference of the year between the hours of daylight and darkness, with the most daylight hours at the beginning of summer and the most darkness at the beginning of winter.
5. Compare equinox

solstice

1. The two occasions each year when the position of the sun at a given time of day does not seem to change direction. In the Northern Hemisphere , the summer solstice occurs around June 21 and is the longest day of the year. The sun stops getting higher in the sky, and the days begin to grow shorter. The winter solstice, which occurs around December 21, is the shortest day. The sun stops getting lower in the sky, and the days begin to grow longer.

Derived Forms

• solstitial, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of solstice¹

1200–50; < Middle English < Old French < Latin sōlstitium, equivalent to sōl sun + -stit-, combining form of stat-, variant stem of sistere to make stand ( stand ) + -ium -ium; -ice )

Word History and Origins

Origin of solstice¹

C13: via Old French from Latin sōlstitium, literally: the (apparent) standing still of the sun, from sōl sun + sistere to stand still

Example Sentences

When does winter 2024 start and when is the solstice?

From BBC

By comparison, in the astronomical calendar, winter always starts at the winter solstice - or shortest day.

From BBC

How much daylight are we likely to see at solstice in the northern hemisphere?

From BBC

The winter solstice is a key point in the astronomical calendar and marks the change from autumn to winter.

From BBC

In December, the winter solstice marks the exact moment the northern hemisphere is tilted the furthest away from the Sun.

From BBC

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