| Solstice 1. (n.) The time of the year when the sun is farthest from the equator, north (summer) or south (winter), namely, the first point of the sign Cancer and the first point of the sign Capricorn, the former being the summer solstice, latter the winter solstice, in northern latitudes; -- so called because the sun then apparently stands still in its northward or southward motion. 2. (n.) A stopping or standing still of the sun. 3. (n.) The time of the sun's passing the solstices, or solstitial points, namely, about June 21 and December 21 Thesaurus Entries aphelion, apogee, astronomical longitude, autumnal equinox, celestial equator, celestial longitude, celestial meridian, circle, colures, ecliptic, equator, equinoctial, equinoctial circle, equinoctial colure, galactic longitude, geocentric longitude, geodetic longitude, great circle, heliocentric longitude, longitude, meridian, orbit, perigee, perihelion, period, small circle, solstice, solstitial colure, summer solstice, trajectory, vernal equinox, winter solstice, zodiac, zone |