Definition

Noun: 1. The solstice that occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere: This is the moment when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the North Pole, resulting in the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year. It marks the official beginning of summer in astronomical terms.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The summer solstice is a significant event for many cultures and is often celebrated with festivals.
  • On the day of the summer solstice, the sun appears to stand still at its northernmost point before reversing direction.
  • Many people gather at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise on the summer solstice.

Advanced Usage

• "The summer solstice occurs": Used to state the timing of the event.
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs between June 20 and June 22.
• "Celebrate the summer solstice": Used to describe the cultural and traditional observances of the day.
  • Various ancient civilizations used to celebrate the summer solstice as a time of abundance and power.

Variants and Related Words

• Solstice (n): Either of the two times in the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. The summer solstice is one of the two annual solstices.
• June solstice (n): Another name for the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Winter solstice (n): The solstice that occurs around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the shortest day and the beginning of winter.

Synonyms

• Midsummer: Often used poetically or traditionally to refer to the period around the summer solstice.

Antonyms

• Winter solstice: The opposite astronomical event, marking the shortest day.

Related Phrases

• "The longest day of the year": A common descriptive phrase for the day on which the summer solstice occurs.
  • The summer solstice is often called the longest day of the year.

Noun

1. June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point