Definition

Noun: - The solstice that marks the beginning of winter: The moment in the year when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the astronomical event marking the start of winter.

Usage

• The term "winter solstice" is used to refer to the specific astronomical event and the day on which it occurs. It is a fixed point in the solar calendar.
• It is often discussed in contexts of astronomy, seasons, calendars, and cultural or religious celebrations.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The winter solstice occurs on or around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • Many ancient cultures built monuments to track the sunrise on the winter solstice.
  • After the winter solstice, the days gradually begin to get longer again.

Advanced Usage

• "the winter solstice": Used definitively to refer to this specific annual event.
  • The festival is timed to coincide with the winter solstice.

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 winter solstice is one of the two annual solstices, the other being the summer solstice.
• December solstice (n): Another name for the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, as it occurs in December.
• Hibernal solstice (n): A less common, poetic synonym.

Synonyms

• December solstice: Specifically references the month it occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Hibernal solstice: A formal or literary term.

Antonyms

• Summer solstice: The solstice that marks the beginning of summer, around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, featuring the longest day and shortest night.

Related Phrases

• Solstice celebration: A festival or observance marking the winter solstice.
  • They attended a solstice celebration at the stone circle.
• Turn of the solstice: The time period around the solstice.
  • The turn of the solstice is a time for reflection.

Noun

1. December 22, when the sun is at its southernmost point