zenith

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Related to zeniths: nadir

ze·nith

(zē′nĭth)

1. The point on the celestial sphere that is directly above the observer.

2. The upper region of the sky.

3. The highest point above the observer's horizon attained by a celestial body.

4. The point of culmination; the peak: the zenith of her career. See Synonyms at summit.

[Middle English senith, from Old French cenith, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic samt (ar-ra's), path (over the head), from Latin sēmita, path; see mei- in Indo-European roots.]

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.

zenith

(ˈzɛnɪθ; US ˈziːnɪθ)

1. (Astronomy) astronomy the point on the celestial sphere vertically above an observer

2. the highest point; peak; acme: the zenith of someone's achievements.

[C17: from French cenith, from Medieval Latin, from Old Spanish zenit, based on Arabic samt, as in samt arrās path over one's head, from samt way, path + al the + rās head]

ˈzenithal adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ze•nith

(ˈzi nɪθ; esp. Brit. ˈzɛn ɪθ)

n.

1. the point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer. Compare nadir.

2. the highest point or state; culmination; peak.

[1350–1400; Middle English cenith < Medieval Latin < Old Spanish zenit, scribal error for zemt < Arabic samt road (compare Arabic samt ar-rās road above (over) one's head, the opposite of nadir)]

ze·nith

(zē′nĭth)

The point on the celestial sphere that is directly above the observer.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

zenith

, nadir - Zenith derived from Arabic samt ar-ras, "the way or road above one's head"; zenith technically is the point directly above the observer and nadir is the point directly below.

zenith

noun height, summit, peak, top, climax, crest, high point, pinnacle, meridian, apex, high noon, apogee, acme, vertex His career is now at its zenith.
base, bottom, nadir, lowest point, depths, rock bottom

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

zenith

noun

The highest point or state:

acme, apex, apogee, climax, crest, crown, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, top.

Informal: payoff.

Medicine: fastigium.

Translations

سَمْت، أوْج، أعْلى نُقْطَه

zenitnadhlavník

topzenit

Zenit

ζενίθ

cenit cénit zenit zénit apogeo

lakipistezeniitti

zénith bout cime pointe

zenit

hvirfilpunktur, hápunktur

culmine zenit vertice apice

天頂絶頂頂点

zenitas

zenīts

senit

zênite

зенит

zenit

zenitzirve

顶点

zenith

[ˈzenɪθ] N

1. (Astron) → cenit m

2. (fig) → cenit m, apogeo m
to be at the zenith of one's power → estar en el apogeo de su poder

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

zenith

[ˈzɛnɪθ ˈziːnɪθ] n

(ASTRONOMY) → zénith m
to reach its zenith [sun, planet] → atteindre son zénith

(fig) → zénith m
to be at its zenith → être à son zénith
to reach its zenith → atteindre son zénith

zenith

n (Astron, fig) → Zenit m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

zenith

[ˈzɛnɪθ] n (liter) (of civilization) → culmine m; (of career) → apice m (Astron) → zenit m inv

zenith

(ˈzeniθ) noun

the highest point. The sun reaches its zenith at midday.

References in classic literature ?

-- After what has been said above, it will be necessary, first of all, to choose the period when the moon will be in perigee, and also the moment when she will be crossing the zenith, which latter event will further diminish the entire distance by a length equal to the radius of the earth, i.

View in context

An unwearied pall of cloud muffled the whole expanse of sky from zenith to horizon.

View in context

A heavy report recalled Bert's eyes to the zenith, and behold, the great crescent had lost its dressing and burst into a disorderly long cloud of airships!

View in context

When Mr Balfour replied to the allegations that the Roman Empire sank under the weight of its military obligations, he said that this was 'wholly unhistorical.' He might well have added that the Roman power was at its zenith when every citizen acknowledged his liability to fight for the State, but that it began to decline as soon as this obligation was no longer recognized."--Pall Mall Gazette, 15th May 1906.

View in context

It was the time when the youthful Speranski was at the zenith of his fame and his reforms were being pushed forward with the greatest energy.

View in context

And at the zenith of his fame, how he would suddenly appear at the old village and stalk into church, brown and weather-beaten, in his black velvet doublet and trunks, his great jack-boots, his crimson sash, his belt bristling with horse-pistols, his crime-rusted cut- lass at his side, his slouch hat with waving plumes, his black flag unfurled, with the skull and crossbones on it, and hear with swelling ecstasy the whisperings, "It's Tom Sawyer the Pirate!