— sunlike , adj.
/sun/ , n. , v. , sunned, sunning .
n.
1. ( often cap. ) the star that is the central body of the solar system, around which the planets revolve and from which they receive light and heat: its mean distance from the earth is about 93 million miles (150 million km), its diameter about 864,000 miles (1.4 million km), and its mass about 330,000 times that of the earth; its period of surface rotation is about 26 days at its equator but longer at higher latitudes.
2. the sun considered with reference to its position in the sky, its visibility, the season of the year, the time at which or the place where it is seen, etc.
3. a self-luminous heavenly body; star.
4. sunshine; the heat and light from the sun: to be exposed to the sun.
5. a figure or representation of the sun, as a heraldic bearing usually surrounded with rays and marked with the features of a human face.
6. something likened to the sun in brightness, splendor, etc.
7. Chiefly Literary.
a. clime; climate.
b. glory; splendor.
8. sunrise or sunset: They traveled hard from sun to sun.
9. Archaic.
a. a day.
b. a year.
10. against the sun , Naut. counterclockwise.
11. place in the sun , a favorable or advantageous position; prominence; recognition: The new generation of writers has achieved a place in the sun.
12. under the sun , on earth; anywhere: the most beautiful city under the sun.
13. with the sun , Naut. clockwise.
v.t.
14. to expose to the sun's rays.
15. to warm, dry, etc., in the sunshine.
16. to put, bring, make, etc., by exposure to the sun.
v.i.
17. to be exposed to the rays of the sun: to sun in the yard.
[ bef. 900; ME sun, sonne, OE sunne; c. G Sonne, ON sunna, Goth sunno; akin to ON sol, Goth sauil, L sol (see SOLAR), Gk hélios (see HELIO-), Welsh haul, Lith saule, Pol slonce ]