English Explanatory Dictionary

zenith

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The point in the sky vertically above a given position or observer; the point in the celestial sphere opposite the nadir.
  2. The highest point in the sky reached by a celestial body.
  3. Highest point or state; peak.

Pronunciation

/ˈzɛn.ɪθ/ /ˈzi.nɪθ/ En-uk-zenith.ogg en-us-zenith.ogg en-au-zenith.ogg

Word forms

zenith zeniths

Etymology

From Middle English cenyth, from Medieval Latin cenit, from Arabic سَمْت (samt, “direction, path”), from the fuller form سَمْت اَلرَّأْس (samt ar-raʔs, “direction of the head”). The -ni- for -m- is sometimes thought to be due to a misreading of the three strokes, which is plausible, though it could be a mere phonetic approximation.

Synonyms

acme apogee culmination pinnacle apex

Antonyms

antizenith nadir perigee

Related words

azimuth nadir

Derived words

zenithal zenithally zenithic zenith sector zenith telescope zenithward
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