Elements of the Universe: Sol ("Sun")

The ancients believed that the universe was composed of five basic elements: earth, air, fire, water, and sky. The Greek and Latin words for these elements still show up in our language today. Learn these words that come from the Latin word sol, meaning "sun."

Here are links to our complete set of Elements of the Universe lists: Cosm, Cosmo ("Universe") / Terr, Terra ("Earth") / Geo ("Earth") / Hydr, Hydro ("Water") / Aqua ("Water") / Ign, Igni ("Fire") / Pyr, Pyro ("Fire") / Aer, Aero ("Air") / Aether ("Sky") / Aster, Astro ("Star") / Sol ("Sun")
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. solar
    relating to the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
    Special eyeglasses made with proper solar filters allow viewers to safely gaze at the sun any time for unlimited duration, the AAS said. Reuters (Aug 10, 2017)
  2. solar energy
    energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy
    Both rely on solar energy for power, and the Sun disappears from the sky for a full two weeks during lunar night. The Verge (Jul 22, 2019)
    sol; en ("at") + ergon ("work, action")
  3. solar cell
    a cell that converts solar energy into electrical energy
    “For solar cells, you want to concentrate light in a small area to produce current.” Scientific American (Jul 20, 2015)
    sol; cella ("small room")
  4. solar array
    electrical device consisting of a large array of connected solar cells
    Why have a traditional rectangular solar array when you could turn it into a Texas-sized work of solar art? Scientific American (Sep 18, 2015)
    sol; ad ("to") + redare ("to make ready")
  5. solar system
    the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it
    “They changed Pluto’s planetary status in 2006. It’s no longer considered one of the nine planets in our solar system.” Auggie & Me
  6. solar wind
    a stream of protons moving radially from the sun
    The magnetic field protects Earth from these solar winds. BBC (Jul 31, 2015)
  7. solar eclipse
    when the moon interrupts light from the sun
    Unlike solar eclipses which require eye protection, you only need clear skies to view a lunar eclipse. US News (Apr 3, 2015)
    sol; ex ("out") + leipein ("to leave")
  8. solar plexus
    a large plexus of sympathetic nerves in the abdomen behind the stomach
    A knot started forming, right in the middle of my solar plexus. Darius the Great Is Not Okay
    sol; plectere ("to fold")
    The solar plexus was so-named because, like the sun, it has a central location.
  9. solarium
    a room enclosed largely with glass to allow sunlight in
    Stone columns frame a sunny solarium, and three arched doorways connect the space to the outdoors. Los Angeles Times (Jul 19, 2019)
  10. solarize
    expose to the rays of the sun or affect by exposure to the sun
    The District is one of the country’s most solarized cities, as solar electric and solar thermal technologies are extensively used here already. Washington Post
  11. insolation
    incident solar radiation
    Length of the period of basking is determined not only by amounts of insolation and temperature but also by the size of the snake. Burkett, Ray D.
  12. solstice
    when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator
    While it is the winter solstice in one hemisphere it is the summer solstice in the other hemisphere. BBC (Dec 21, 2014)
    sol + sistere ("to come to a stop")
Created on Fri Aug 14 11:58:53 EDT 2015 (updated Mon Aug 26 14:30:16 EDT 2019)

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