summer solstice

1. In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on or about June 21.

2. In the Southern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on our about December 21.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

summer solstice

1. (Astronomy) the time at which the sun is at its northernmost point in the sky (southernmost point in the S hemisphere), appearing at noon at its highest altitude above the horizon. It occurs about June 21 (December 22 in the S hemisphere)

2. (Astronomy) astronomy the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the winter solstice, at which the ecliptic is furthest north from the celestial equator. Right ascension: 6 hours; declination: 23.5°

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sum′mer sol′stice

the solstice on or about June 21 that marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

[1540–50]

summer solstice

In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on June 20 or 21, marking the beginning of summer and the day of the year with the longest period of sunlight. Compare winter solstice.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

summer solstice - June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point

June 21, midsummer

June - the month following May and preceding July

solstice - either of the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator

summer, summertime - the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox; "they spent a lazy summer at the shore"

winter solstice - December 22, when the sun is at its southernmost point

Translations

Sommersonnenwende

solstizio d'estate

summer solstice

n → solstizio d'estate

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

At this period, the summer solstice of the northern regions, it had begun to descend; and to-morrow was to shed its last rays upon them.

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In the early epochs of our race, men dwelt in temporary huts, of bowers of branches, as easily constructed as a bird's-nest, and which they built,--if it should be called building, when such sweet homes of a summer solstice rather grew than were made with hands,--which Nature, we will say, assisted them to rear where fruit abounded, where fish and game were plentiful, or, most especially, where the sense of beauty was to be gratified by a lovelier shade than elsewhere, and a more exquisite arrangement of lake, wood, and hill.

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The climate is certainly wretched: the summer solstice was now passed, yet every day snow fell on the hills, and in the valleys there was rain, accompanied by sleet.

View in context

Thousands of people are gathered at Stonehenge this morning for the annual summer solstice celebration that marks the longest day of the year.

Summer Solstice 2019: Huge crowds gather at Stonehenge for sunrise on longest day; The summer solstice has been celebrated at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, for thousands of years

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle, and rays of sunlight are channelled into the centre of the monument.

Thousands mark solstice sunrise

Islamabad -- The summer solstice is almost upon us: Friday, June 21 will be the longest day of the calendar year for anyone living north of the equator.

June 21: Longest day of the year

GMB weatherman Alex Beresford struggled to get his words out today, and suffered a blunder when he was talking about the summer solstice.

ITV Good Morning Britain weatherman Alex Beresford bursts into laughter after epic blunder; Alex was struggling to get his words out today

The gin extraordinaire will be swapping between rail and road as he races on trains and taxis from Scotland toNewcastle,Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Cheltenham and finishing in Reading before the sun sets on the Summer Solstice.

Free G&Ts on offer at The Botanist as Gin Journey arrives in Newcastle; If you're partial to a gin and tonic you might want to head to The Botanist in Newcastle on Friday

Providing a happy contrast to the gloomy short days of winter, summer solstice has traditionally been celebrated across Europe with festivals, rituals and events.

Summer solstice: the Scottish history and traditions behind the longest day of the year

The country will experience on Friday its shortest night and longest daytime during the summer solstice.

PHL's longest day of the year occurs on Friday

Chasing shadows Thousands of people gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire (english-heritage.org.uk) each year to welcome the summer solstice. Europe's best-known prehistoric stone circle has become a leading light for midsummer festivities.

SUN WORSHIPPING; We shine a light on some of the best places to experience the Summer Solstice, from Scotland's Standing Stones to Russia's White Nights Festival