curtate distance

noun

: the distance of a planet or comet from the sun or earth as measured in the plane of the ecliptic or the distance from the sun or earth to that point where a perpendicular let fall from the planet upon the plane of the ecliptic meets that plane

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!