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zenith

Zenith means the high point––it comes from astronomy, where it describes the highest point in an arc traveled by a star or a planet or another celestial body. The sun reaches its zenith when it is as high in the sky as it is going to go on that day.

Zenith — and it's opposite, "nadir" — have been appropriated by non-astronomers and are used to describe high and low points in non-astronomical contexts. "The party lasted all night, but the zenith was definitely the moment when we climbed up onto the roof deck and watched the fireworks. It was all downhill from there."

DEFINITIONS OF: zenith

1

n the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

Antonyms:
nadir
the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
Type of:
celestial point
a point in the heavens (on the celestial sphere)
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