sun Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
    • the sun contains 99.85% of the mass in the solar system
    • the Earth revolves around the Sun
  2. noun the rays of the sun
    sunshine; sunlight.
    • the shingles were weathered by the sun and wind
  3. noun a person considered as a source of warmth or energy or glory etc
  4. noun any star around which a planetary system revolves
  5. noun first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
    Sunday; Dominicus; Lord's Day.
  6. verb expose one's body to the sun
    sunbathe.
  7. verb expose to the rays of the sun or affect by exposure to the sun
    solarize; solarise; insolate.
    • insolated paper may turn yellow and crumble
    • These herbs suffer when sunned

WordNet

Sun
Definitions
  1. . -- Combat; fight; conflict; collision; clash.
Sun noun
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) See Sunn.
Sun noun
Etymology
OE. sunne, sonne, AS. sunne; akin to OFries. sunne, D. zon, OS. & OHG. sunna, G. sonne, Icel. sunna, Goth. sunna; perh. fr. same root as L. sol. *297. Cf. Solar, South.
Definitions
  1. The luminous orb, the light of which constitutes day, and its absence night; the central body round which the earth and planets revolve, by which they are held in their orbits, and from which they receive light and heat. Its mean distance from the earth is about 92,500,000 miles, and its diameter about 860,000. ✍ Its mean apparent diameter as seen from the earth is 32' 4&sec;, and it revolves on its own axis once in 25⅓ days. Its mean density is about one fourth of that of the earth, or 1.41, that of water being unity. Its luminous surface is called the photosphere, above which is an envelope consisting partly of hydrogen, called the chromosphere, which can be seen only through the spectroscope, or at the time of a total solar eclipse. Above the chromosphere, and sometimes extending out millions of miles, are luminous rays or streams of light which are visible only at the time of a total eclipse, forming the solar corona.
  2. Any heavenly body which forms the center of a system of orbs.
  3. The direct light or warmth of the sun; sunshine.
    Lambs that did frisk in the sun. Shak.
  4. That which resembles the sun, as in splendor or importance; any source of light, warmth, or animation.
    For the Lord God is a sun and shield. Ps. lxxiv. 11.
    I will never consent to put out the sun of sovereignity to posterity. Eikon Basilike.
    ✍ Sun is often used in the formation of compound adjectives of obvious meaning; as, sun-bright, sun-dried, sun-gilt, sunlike, sun-lit, sun-scorched, and the like.
Sun transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Sunned ; present participle & verbal noun Sunning
Definitions
  1. To expose to the sun's rays; to warm or dry in the sun; as, to sun cloth; to sun grain.
    Then to sun thyself in open air. Dryden.

Webster 1913