See Also: solar(dictionary)
Solar(medicine)
solar(dictionary)
solar heating(encyclopedia)
solar flare(encyclopedia)
solar energy(encyclopedia)
solar cycle(encyclopedia)
solar cell(encyclopedia)
solar (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
solar nebula(encyclopedia)

solar (iou)



solar adjective1 & noun2. LME.
[Latin solaris, from sol sun: see -AR1.]
A. adjective.
Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding or emanating from the sun. LME.
b. (Of time etc.) determined by the course of the sun; fixed by observation of the sun; indicating time in relation to the sun. L16.
c. Utilizing the sun as a source of radiant light or heat. Now esp. of or pertaining to the generation of power or energy more or less directly from the sun's radiation. M18.
a. Astrology. Influenced by or dependent on the sun, esp. as opp. to the moon. E17.
b. Sacred to the sun; connected or associated with sun-worship; representing or symbolizing the sun; Mythology descended from the sun. L18.
Like that of the sun; comparable to the sun. M18.
Of an Arabic consonant: before which the l of the article is assimilated. Opp. LUNAR adjective 3. L18.
Special collocations & comb.: solar apex: see APEX noun1 4. solar battery a solar cell or (more usu.) a device consisting of several solar cells. solar cell a photovoltaic device which converts solar radiation into electrical energy. solar constant the mean rate per unit area at which energy is received at the earth from the sun, equal to 1388 watts per square metre. solar day the interval between successive meridional transits of the sun at a place, a day reckoned from noon to noon. solar eclipse: see ECLIPSE noun 1. solar energy: derived more or less directly from the sun's radiation. solar flare: see FLARE noun1 1c. solar furnace: in which high temperatures are achieved by focusing sunlight using a system of reflectors. solar-heated adjective heated by means of the sun's rays; equipped with a solar heating system. solar heating heating by means of the sun's rays, esp. when utilized for water or space heating. solar hour one twenty-fourth of a solar day. solar lamp (a) an argon lamp; (b) a grade of electric lamp. solar mass Astronomy the mass of the sun (= 1.989 1030 kg) used as a unit of mass. solar month one twelfth of a solar year; the time taken by the sun to pass through a sign of the zodiac. solar myth: ascribing the course or attributes of the sun to some god or hero. solar neutrino unit a unit used in expressing the detected flux of neutrinos from the sun, equal to 1036 neutrino captures per target atom per second; abbreviation SNU. solar panel a panel designed to absorb the sun's rays for the purpose of generating electricity (using solar cells) or heating. solar plexus Anatomy a complex of radiating nerves situated behind the stomach; loosely the region of the chest in front of this, esp. as regarded as vulnerable to a blow. solar pond, solar pool a pool of very salty water in which convection is inhibited, allowing considerable heating of the bottom water by solar radiation. solar power: derived more or less directly from solar radiation. solar-powered adjective using power derived directly from the sun's rays. solar prominence: see PROMINENCE 4. solar regular: see REGULAR noun 4. solar salt salt obtained by allowing seawater to evaporate in sunlight. solar still: in which solar radiation is employed to evaporate salty or impure water and produce fresh water. solar system the sun together with all the planets and other bodies connected with it. solar time: determined with reference to the position of the sun (apparent solar time: see APPARENT adjective 4; mean solar time: see MEAN adjective2). solar wind the stream of ions and electrons which constantly emanates from the sun and which permeates the solar system. solar year: see YEAR noun1 1.
b. noun.
A solar lamp. M19.
Solar energy, esp. as used for domestic or industrial purposes. L20.
solarism noun the belief that (most or all) myths can be explained as solar myths L19.
solarist noun an adherent of solarism L19.