perigee Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun periapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is nearest to the Earth

WordNet

Per"i*gee, Per`i*ge"um noun (Also<
  • Perigee
  • Perigeum
)
Etymology
NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. about, near + the earth: cf. F. périgée.
Definitions
  1. (Astron.) That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.

Webster 1913