Sun
sʌn
Definitions
2 meaningsThe star around which the Earth orbits, providing light and heat.
sʌn
The star at the center of our solar system.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
💡 Simply: The big, bright ball in the sky that gives us light and warmth. It's what makes it daytime!
👶 For kids: The big, bright ball in the sky that makes it daytime and keeps us warm.
More Examples
We enjoyed the warm sun on the beach.
The sun's rays can be harmful if you don't wear sunscreen.
How It's Used
"The sun is a giant ball of hot gas that provides light and heat to Earth."
"The weather forecast predicts a sunny day with lots of sun."
To expose oneself or something to the sun.
sʌn
To expose something to the sun's rays.
I love to sunbathe on the beach.
💡 Simply: To sit or put something in the sun so it can get warmer or change color.
👶 For kids: To sit in the sun and get warm.
More Examples
We sunned the clothes to dry them.
The cat enjoyed sunning itself on the windowsill.
How It's Used
"I sunbathed on the beach to get a tan."
"The gardener sunned the plants to help them grow."
Idioms & expressions
under the sun
Everywhere on earth; in existence.
"She's been to every country under the sun."
sun's out, guns out
A call to take advantage of warm weather to remove layers of clothing, sometimes used in a boastful way to show off the body.
"With the warm weather, it's the perfect time to take off your shirt - sun's out, guns out!"
From Old English sunne, from Proto-Germanic *sunnō, from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥. Cognate with German Sonne, Latin sol.
The word 'sun' has been used in English since the Old English period, and its meaning has remained largely consistent.
Memory tip
Think of the 'sun' as the central source of energy that brightens our day.
Word Origin
"sun"