sun

1 of 3

noun

ˈsən 

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

sun

2 of 3

verb

sunned; sunning

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to sun oneself

Sun

3 of 3

abbreviation

Sunday

Phrases

in the sun

: in the public eye

under the sun

: in the world : on earth

Synonyms

Noun

• sunlight
• sunshine

Examples of sun in a Sentence

Noun

The rain has stopped and the sun is shining.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

the warmth of the sun's rays

They dream of traveling to distant suns.

Try to keep out of the sun.

The cat lay basking in the sun.

Verb

People sunned themselves on the hillside.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Marcel Fontaine, a French diplomat who was released in May 1988 after three years of captivity, recalled the time cell mate Anderson thought freedom was near because he was allowed to see the sun and eat a hamburger. —Alistair Bell, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024

Marcel Fontaine, a French diplomat who was released in May 1988 after three years of captivity, recalled the time cellmate Anderson thought freedom was near because he was allowed to see the sun and eat a hamburger. —Alistair Bell, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing sun

• day/moment/time in the sun
• get/catch some sun
• in the sun
• mean sun
• midnight sun
• place in the sun
• sun-baked
• sun bear
• sun cream
• sun dance
• sun disk
• sun dog
• sun-drenched
• sun-dried
• sun god
• sun goddess
• sun-grebe
• sun hat
• sun-kissed
• sun lounge
• sun lounger
• sun protection factor
• sun worshipper
• the sun is in someone's eyes
• under the sun

Kids Definition

sun

1 of 2 noun

ˈsən 

1

a

: the star around which the planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, and which has an average distance from the earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth

b

: a star like the sun

2

: the heat or light given off by the sun : sunshine

3

: one resembling the sun usually in brilliance

4

: the rising or setting of the sun

from sun to sun

sun

2 of 2 verb

sunned; sunning

1

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

2

: to sun oneself