Main Entry: apo·gee

Pronunciation: \ˈa-pə-(ˌ)jē\

Function: noun

Etymology: French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogeios, apogaios far from the earth, from apo- + gē, gaia earth

Date: 1594

1 : the point in the orbit of an object (as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth; also : the point farthest from a planet or a satellite (as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it — compare perigee
2 : the farthest or highest point : culmination <Aegean civilization reached its apogee in Crete>

— apo·ge·an \ˌa-pə-ˈjē-ən\ adjective

[apogee illustration]