apogee

views updated May 21 2018

ap·o·gee / ˈapəjē/ • n. Astron. the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth. The opposite of perigee. ∎ fig. the highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination of something.ORIGIN: late 16th cent.: from French apogée or modern Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion (diastēma) ‘(distance) away from earth,’ from apo ‘from’ + gaia, ‘earth.’

apogee

views updated May 08 2018

apogee The point in the orbit of the Moon (or any artificial satellite), that is most distant from the Earth. Compare PERIGEE.

apogee

views updated May 11 2018

apogee (astron.) point of a planet's orbit at which it is farthest from the earth. XVII (XVI in L. form). — F. apogée or modL. apogæum, -eum — Gr. apógeion, sb. use (sc. diástēma distance) of n. of adj. apógeios far from the earth, f. APO- + earth.