PERIGEE

[peri.gee] n [MF, fr. NL perigeum, fr. Gk perigeion, fr. neut. of perigeios near the earth, fr. peri- + ge earth] (1594): the point in the orbit of an object (as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is nearest to the center of the earth; also: the point nearest a planet or a satellite (as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it--compare apogee -- peri.ge.an adj