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A.Word.A.Day--perihelion

This week's theme: Words with hidden animals.

perihelion (per-i-HEE-lee-uhn_, -HEEL-yun) noun

The point in the orbit of a celestial body that is nearest to the sun.

[From Greek peri- (around, near) + helios (sun). The point farthest from the sun is called aphelion, from apo- (away).]

See more usage examples of perihelion in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

-Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)

"Come Jan. 3, Earth will reach perihelion, its closest approach to the sun at 91,399,727 miles." Pete Zapadka; That Sun Feels Mighty Close During Summer. False!; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Jul 6, 2007.

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