Elements of the Universe: helio, sol (sun)

Learn this list of words derived from helio and sol meaning "sun."
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. heliocentric
    having the sun as or in the middle
    Copernicus’s heliocentric, or sun-centered, theory still did not completely explain why the planets orbited the way they did. World History: Patterns of Interaction
  2. helium
    a light colorless element that is one of the six inert gases
    Two protons and two neutrons are the nucleus of a helium atom, which turns out to be very stable. Cosmos
  3. heliotropism
    an orienting response to the sun
    But light sensitivity—or heliotropism—plays a role too. Time (Aug 4, 2016)
  4. heliotropic
    growing or turning towards a light source
    Back in school I remember learning that plants are “heliotropic,” meaning they grow towards the light. The Verge (Jul 12, 2018)
  5. heliopause
    the boundary marking the edge of the sun's influence
    The heliopause is the barrier separating the Sun's solar winds from the interstellar medium, or all of the matter and radiation that exist in the space in-between various solar systems in the galaxy. Salon (May 23, 2022)
  6. 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)
  7. 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
  8. 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)
  9. 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")
  10. parasol
    a handheld collapsible source of shade
    She carried a frilly parasol against the sun, and twirled it to and fro in irritation. The Interrupted Tale
Created on Wed Feb 11 13:48:02 EST 2026 (updated Fri Mar 20 16:07:01 EDT 2026)

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