zenith

views updated May 23 2018

ze·nith / ˈzēni[unvoicedth]/ • n. [in sing.] the highest point reached by a celestial or other object: the missile reached its zenith and fell. ∎ the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer.The opposite of nadir. ∎ the time at which something is most powerful or successful: under Justinian, the Byzantine Empire reached its zenith of influence.DERIVATIVES: ze·nith·al / -nə[unvoicedth]əl/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

zenith

views updated May 18 2018

zenith point of the sky directly overhead, †point of the horizon at which a heavenly body rises XIV; highest point or state XVII. ME. cenyth, senith, cinit — OF. cenit (mod. zénith) or medL. cenit, obscurely — Arab. samt in samt ar-ra's ‘path over the head’ (samt way, al the, AL-2, ra's head).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

zenith

views updated May 09 2018

zenith the highest point reached by a celestial or other object; the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer; in figurative usage, the time at which something is most powerful or successful. Recorded from late Middle English, the word comes via Old French from medieval Latin cenit, based on Arabic samt (ar-ra's) ‘path (over the head)’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

zenith

views updated Jun 11 2018

zenith In astronomy, point on the celestial sphere that is directly overhead. The zenith distance of a heavenly body is the angle it makes with the zenith. It is diametrically opposite the nadir.

World Encyclopedia

ZENITH

views updated Jun 08 2018

ZENITH (ˈzɛnɪɵ) Nuclear engineering zero-energy nitrogen-heated thermal reactor

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH