parhelion

American  

[pahr-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn] / pɑrˈhi li ən, -ˈhil yən /

noun

Meteorology.

plural

parhelia

1. a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands.

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parhelion British  

/ ˌpɑːhɪˈlaɪəkəl, pɑːˈhiːlɪən, pɑːˈhiːlɪk, -ˈhɛlɪk /

noun

1. Also called: mock sun.   sundog.  one of several bright spots on the parhelic circle or solar halo, caused by the diffraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, esp around sunset Compare anthelion

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parhelion Scientific  

/ pär-hē′lē-ən /

plural

parhelia

1. A white spot appearing at times in the parhelic circle. White parhelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off of atmospheric ice crystals; colored parhelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals. Multiple parhelia can often be seen simultaneously.

2. Compare anthelion

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Other Word Forms

• parheliacal adjective
• parhelic adjective

Etymology

Origin of parhelion

First recorded in 1640–50; alteration of Latin parēlion, from Greek parḗlion, noun use of neuter of parḗlios “beside the sun”; par-, helio-