nadir

views updated May 29 2018

na·dir / ˈnādər; ˈnādi(ə)r/ • n. [in sing.] the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization: they had reached the nadir of their sufferings. ∎  Astron. the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer. The opposite of zenith.

nadir

views updated May 09 2018

nadir the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer; in general use, the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization. Recorded from late Middle English (in the astronomical sense) the word comes via French from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt) ‘opposite (to the zenith)’.

nadir

views updated May 23 2018

nadir (astron.) †point in the heavens diametrically opposite to another XIV; point opposite to the zenith XV; lowest point XVIII. — (O)F. — Arab. naz̳īr opposite. In the second sense for naz̳īr as-samt opposite to the ZENITH.

nadir

views updated May 23 2018

nadir Point on the celestial sphere vertically below the observer. It is diametrically opposite the zenith.

nadir

views updated May 08 2018

nadir In remote sensing, the point on the ground directly beneath a remote sensing system.