— apogeal, apogean, apogeic , adj.
/ap"euh jee'/ , n.
1. Astron. the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of a man-made satellite at which it is farthest from the earth. Cf. perigee .
2. the highest or most distant point; climax.
[ 1585-95; alter. (after F apogée ) of earlier apogaeum apógaion ( diástema ) off-earth (distance), neut. of apógaios (adj.), equiv. to apo- APO- + gáïos of the earth, deriv. of gaîa, var. of gê the earth ]