sun

¹sun

noun \ˈsən\

Definition of SUN

1

a often capitalized : the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, and which has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a linear diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth

b : a celestial body like the sun : star

2

: the heat or light radiated from the sun <played in the sun all day>

3

: one resembling the sun (as in warmth or brilliance)

4

: the rising or setting of the sun <from sun to sun>

5

: glory, splendor

— in the sun

: in the public eye

— under the sun

: in the world : on earth

Examples of SUN

1. The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.
2. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
3. the warmth of the sun's rays
4. They dream of traveling to distant suns.
5. Try to keep out of the sun.
6. The cat lay basking in the sun.

Origin of SUN

Middle English sunne, from Old English; akin to Old High German sunna sun, Latin sol — more at solar

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SUN

Synonyms

sunlight, sunshine

Antonyms

nightfall, sundown, sunset

Related Words

sunburst; daylight; glare, shine

Near Antonyms

cloudiness; penumbra, shade, shadiness, shadow, umbra

Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

Rhymes with SUN

bun, done, dun, fen, fun, gun, hon, Hun, jun, maun, none, nun, one, pun, run, shun, son, stun, sunn, ton, tonne, tun, won

²sun

verb

sunnedsun·ning

Definition of SUN

transitive verb

: to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun

intransitive verb

: to sun oneself

Examples of SUN

1. People sunned themselves on the hillside.

First Known Use of SUN

15th century

Sun

abbreviation

Definition of SUN

Sunday