solstice

[sol-stis, sohl-] /ˈsɒl stɪs, ˈsoʊl-/

noun

Astronomy.

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.
either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.

a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.

Origin

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

Examples from the web for solstice

No better time to get the answers to these questions than now, the week of the summer solstice.
In modern times, the solstice points became the astronomical definitions of when the summer and winter seasons begin.
The winter solstice is, of course, the shortest day of the year.
Tonight's lunar eclipse coincides with the winter solstice.
Many more people observe the solstice while participating in modern holidays-even if they do not always realize the connection.
Winter officially begins late tonight and this winter solstice will be a rare event.
Students may also find other winter holidays in their research, such as the winter solstice.
With the summer solstice upon us, gals all across the world are looking for new ways to beat the heat.
The festival season begins even before the summer solstice and lasts until the first frost.
In a few days, the winter solstice will plunge us into the longest and darkest night of the year.

British Dictionary definitions for solstice

solstice

/ˈsɒlstɪs/

noun

either the shortest day of the year (winter solstice) or the longest day of the year (summer solstice)

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

Derived Forms

solstitial (sɒlˈstɪʃəl) adjective

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for solstice

mid-13c., from Old French solstice (13c.), from Latin solstitium "point at which the sun seems to stand still," especially the summer solstice, from sol "sun" (see sol) + past participle stem of sistere "to come to a stop, make stand still" (see assist (v.)).

solstice in Science

solstice

(sŏl'stĭs, sōl'-)

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. ◇ The northernmost point of the Sun's path, called the summer solstice, lies on the Tropic of Cancer at 23°27' north latitude. ◇ The southernmost point of the Sun's path, called the winter solstice, lies on the Tropic of Capricorn at 23°27' south latitude.
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. Compare equinox.

solstice in Culture

solstice [(sol-stuhs, sohl-stuhs)]

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.