syz·y·gy (s z  -j )n. pl. syz·y·gies 1. Astronomy a. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun. b. Either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth. c. The configuration of the sun, the moon, and Earth lying in a straight line. 2. The combining of two feet into a single metrical unit in classical prosody. [Late Latin s  zygia, from Greek suzugi , union, from suzugos, paired : sun-, su-, syn- + zugon, yoke; see yeug- in Indo-European roots.]sy·zyg i·al (s-zj-l) adj. |
syzygy [ˈsɪzɪdʒɪ]
n pl -gies
1. (Astronomy) either of the two positions (conjunction or opposition) of a celestial body when sun, earth, and the body lie in a straight line the moon is at syzygy when full
2. (Literature / Poetry) (in classical prosody) a metrical unit of two feet
3. Rare any pair, usually of opposites
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) Biology the aggregation in a mass of certain protozoans, esp when occurring before sexual reproduction
[from Late Latin syzygia, from Greek suzugia, from suzugos yoked together, from syn- + zugon a yoke]
syzygial [sɪˈzɪdʒɪəl], syzygetic [ˌsɪzɪˈdʒɛtɪk], syzygal [ˈsɪzɪgəl] adj
syzygetically adv
| syzygy (sz-j) 1. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the Sun. 2. a. Either of the two points in the orbit of the Moon when it lies in a straight line with the Sun and Earth. A new moon syzygy occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth; a full moon syzygy occurs when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun. b. The configuration of the Sun, Moon, and Earth when lying in a straight line. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | syzygy - the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy |
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