parhelion
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Related to parhelion: sundog
par·he·li·on
(pär-hē′lē-ən, -hēl′yən)n. pl. par·he·li·a (-hē′lē-ə, -hēl′yə)
A bright spot sometimes appearing at either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo, caused by the refraction and reflection of sunlight by ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere. Also called mock sun, sundog.
[Latin parēlion, from Greek : para-, beside; see para-1 + hēlios, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]
par·he′lic (-hē′lĭk) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
parhelion
(pɑːˈhiːlɪən)n, pl -lia (-lɪə)
(Physical Geography) one of several bright spots on the parhelic circle or solar halo, caused by the diffraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere, esp around sunset. Also called: mock sun or sundog Compare anthelion
[C17: via Latin from Greek parēlion, from para-1 (beside) + hēlios sun]
parhelic, parheliacal adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
par•he•li•on
(pɑrˈhi li ən, -ˈhil yən)n., pl. -he•li•a (-ˈhi li ə, -ˈhil yə)
a bright spot on the solar halo similar in origin to the parhelic circle.
[1640–50; alter. of Latin parēlion < Greek parḗlion, n. use of neuter of parḗlios beside the sun. See par-, helio-]
par•he′lic, adj.
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| Noun | 1. |  parhelion - a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at once" |
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