parhelion

par·he·li·on

P0071100 (pär-hē′lē-ən, -hēl′yən)n. pl. par·he·li·a (-hē′lē-ə, -hēl′yə) A bright spot sometimes appearing at either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere. Also called mock sun, sundog.

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[Latin parēlion, from Greek : para-, beside; see para-¹ + hēlios, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]

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par·he′lic (-hē′lĭk) adj.

parhelion

(pɑːˈhiːlɪən) n, pl -lia (-lɪə) (Physical Geography) one of several bright spots on the parhelic circle or solar halo, caused by the diffraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, esp around sunset. Also called: mock sun or sundog Compare anthelion[C17: via Latin from Greek parēlion, from para-¹ (beside) + hēlios sun] parhelic, parheliacal adj

par•he•li•on

(pɑrˈhi li ən, -ˈhil yən)

n., pl. -he•li•a (-ˈhi li ə, -ˈhil yə) a bright spot on the solar halo similar in origin to the parhelic circle. [1640–50; alter. of Latin parēlion < Greek parḗlion, n. use of neuter of parḗlios beside the sun. See par-, helio-] par•he′lic, adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

parhelion - a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at once"mock sun, sundogmaculation, patch, speckle, dapple, fleck, spot - a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin ice"; "a fleck of red"

Translations

parhélieparelio