ANALEMMA

[an.a.lem.ma] n [L, sundial on a pedestal, fr. Gk analemma, lofty structure, sundial, fr. analambanein to take up, restore, fr. ana- + lambanein to take--more at latch] (1832): a plot or graph of the position of the sun in the sky at a certain time of day (as noon) at one locale measured at regular intervals throughout the year that has the shape of a figure 8; also: a scale (as on a globe or sundial) based on such a plot that shows the sun's position for each day of the year or that allows local mean time to be determined -- an.a.lem.mat.ic adj