winter solstice

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the solstice on or about December 21st that marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

winter solstice

noun

1. the time at which the sun is at its southernmost point in the sky (northernmost point in the S hemisphere) appearing at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon. It occurs about December 22 (June 21 in the S hemisphere)
2. astronomy the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the summer solstice , at which the ecliptic is furthest south from the celestial equator. Right ascension: 18 hours; declination: –23.5°

winter solstice

/ wĭn′tər /

1. See under solstice

Word History and Origins

Origin of winter solstice¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

It is composed of sarsens and bluestones, all of them aligned towards the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice.

From Salon

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

From BBC

By 21 December, the Sun will have reached its lowest point in the sky during the day, marking the winter solstice.

From BBC

“It’s rising farther south than the winter solstice sun,” Vanessa Alarcon, the astronomical observer at the Griffith Observatory, told The Times last week.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s rising farther south than the winter solstice sun,” said Vanessa Alarcon, the astronomical observer at the Griffith Observatory.

From Los Angeles Times