[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/solstice/)

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# solstice

noun (a solstice, solstices)

«solstice» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A solstice is one of the two days each year when the Sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon. The summer solstice has the longest daylight; the winter solstice has the shortest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#m1)

### In the lessons

Science and geography: solstices happen because the Earth's axis is tilted. In the Northern Hemisphere (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada) the summer solstice is around 21 June and the winter solstice around 21 December; in Australia and New Zealand it is the other way round. History: Stonehenge and Newgrange in Ireland line up with the solstice sun. Compare «equinox» (day and night about equal).

### Examples

- The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x1)
- People gather at Stonehenge for the solstice sunrise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x2)
- In Australia, the winter solstice is in June. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x3)
- At Newgrange, sunlight fills the passage at the winter solstice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x4)
- After the winter solstice, days slowly get longer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x5)
- We measured our shadow on the solstice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x6)
- There are two solstices and two equinoxes each year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/#x7)

### Note

Said «SOL-stiss». Countable. Comes from Latin for «sun stands still». Trap: the solstice is not always on the 21st; it can be the 20th to 22nd. Solstice (longest/shortest day) is not the same as equinox (equal day and night).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «solstice» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/solstice/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«solstice» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/solstice.html) on Mova free.