sun
sun
Pronunciation
/sʌn/ - The entire word is a single syllable.
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: sun
Plural Noun: suns
Verb (base form): sun
Verb (third-person singular present): suns
Verb (present participle): sunning
Verb (past tense): sunned
Verb (past participle): sunned
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The star at the center of our solar system, around which Earth and other planets orbit, providing light and heat.
Synonyms: Sol (astronomical), star, daylight (referring to its light)
Antonyms: moon (celestial body offering nighttime illumination), darkness, night
Definition 2: The light and warmth received from the sun.
Synonyms: sunshine, daylight, sunlight, warmth, heat
Antonyms: shade, shadow, darkness, cold
Verb
Definition 1: To expose oneself or something to the sun's rays, typically for warmth, light, or to achieve a tan.
Synonyms: bask, tan, warm, expose, air out
Antonyms: shelter, shade, conceal, hide
Examples of Use
Books: "The old man was dreaming about the lions now. He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor of fights, nor of contests of strength, nor of his wife. He only dreamed of lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy. He never dreamed about the boy. He only dreamed about the lions. When the sun came up, he could look at the great tail of the fish and see that it was longer than the skiff." (Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea, 1952)
Newspapers: "Parts of Europe are bracing for an intense heatwave this week, with temperatures expected to soar into the high 30s and even low 40s Celsius, as a high-pressure system draws hot air from Africa, bringing scorching sun and clear skies." (The Guardian)
Online Publications: "Solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient at converting the sun's energy into electricity, making renewable power a more viable option for homes and businesses worldwide." (National Geographic online)
Entertainment Mediums (Music): "Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say, it's all right." (The Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun," Abbey Road)
Entertainment Platforms (Film Dialogue): "You are my sun, my moon, and all my stars." (E. E. Cummings quote, often referenced in romantic films; for example, The Fault in Our Stars)
General Public Discourse: "Don't forget to put on sunscreen if you're going to be out in the sun all day." (Common advice given by parents or friends)
General Public Discourse: "The plants really need some more sun to grow well." (A gardener discussing plant care)
10 Quotes Using Sun
"The sun never sets on the British Empire." (Attributed to various sources, often referring to the vastness of the Empire)
"There is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9, King James Bible)
"Keep your face always toward the sun—and shadows will fall behind you." (Walt Whitman)
"Rise above the storm and you will find the sun." (Mario Fernandez)
"Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom where before there was only a sun-baked desert." (Marcel Proust)
"Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet." (Thich Nhat Hanh, often adapted as "Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet, and feel the sun on your face.")
"Do not let the sun go down upon your wrath." (Ephesians 4:26, King James Bible)
"The sun also rises." (Ernest Hemingway, novel title)
''Under the sun, there is a time for everything." (Often adapted from Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Etymology
The word "sun" comes from a very old root that traces back to ancient times. It developed from the Old English word "sunne," which meant exactly what it does today: the celestial body that gives us light and heat.
Before Old English, its roots go even further back to Proto-Germanic languages, where it was something like "sunnō" or "sunnon." This Proto-Germanic word itself is thought to have come from an even older language called Proto-Indo-European, which is the ancestor of many European and Indian languages. In Proto-Indo-European, the word for sun was likely something like "sóh₂wl̥" or "súh₂wl̥."
So, in easy terms, the word "sun" has been around for thousands of years, with very little change in its core meaning or even its sound. From the earliest known uses, it has always referred to the bright, warm object in the sky that provides daylight. Its first known meaning in Old English was exactly the same as our modern understanding.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sun
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "sun":
Catch some rays/sun: To sit or lie in the sun, often to get a tan.
A place in the sun: A favorable or advantageous position; a share of prosperity.
Under the sun: Anywhere on Earth; in existence.
Nothing new under the sun: Everything that happens has happened before.
Make hay while the sun shines: To make good use of an opportunity while it lasts.
To sun oneself: To expose oneself to the sun, typically for warmth or a tan.
The sun is shining: A literal description of the weather, but also implies a good or hopeful situation.
Chasing the sun: Traveling to warmer places or following daylight around the globe.
Go with the sun: To follow a path that is illuminated by the sun, often implying a natural or straightforward course.
Sun-kissed: Lightly tanned or reddened by the sun.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sun from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
