Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
periapsis in solar orbit;
the point in the orbit of a planet or comet where it is nearest to the sun;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Perihelion \Per`i*hel"ion\, Perihelium \Per`i*he"li*um\, n.; pl.
Perihelia. [NL., fr. Gr. peri` about, near + "h`lios the
sun.] (Astron.)
That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest
to the sun; -- opposed to aphelion.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
perihelion
n 1: periapsis in solar orbit; the point in the orbit of a
planet or comet where it is nearest to the sun [ant:
aphelion]