The direct rays of the sun; sunlight; sunshine. Originally and chiefly in prepositional phrases. Also figurative (cf. in the sun at phrases 1d).

Sunlight; a sunbeam. Obsolete.

The light of the sun; light emanating from the sun. Also occasionally: a period of time when the sun is shining brightly.

The shining of the sun; direct sunlight uninterrupted by cloud, esp. over a comparatively large area. Also: sunny weather.

The shining of the sun; direct sunlight; = sunshine, n. 2a. Later also: a burst or spell of sunshine; = sunshine, n. 2b. Also figurative.

Chiefly poetic. Radiance comparable to that of the sun; bright shining or glowing. rare.

Sunshine, esp. as opposed to rain; hence, fine weather. Also, moonlight. Also figurative phr. (come) rain or shine, in any circumstances, come…

Bright sunlight likened to gold; golden sunshine. Also (and in earliest use) figurative. Now rare.

colloquial (originally U.S.). In plural. Sun or sunshine, in contexts relating to sunbathing or tanning. Chiefly in to catch (also soak up,etc.) rays…