Sundog

Pronunciation: /ˈsʌnˌdɔɡ/

Definitions of sundog

noun a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a parhelion

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a sundog in the sky during my walk.

A2 Sundogs are caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

B1 Many people mistake sundogs for rainbows because of their similar appearance.

B2 Photographers often try to capture the beauty of sundogs in their pictures.

C1 Scientists study sundogs to better understand the complex interactions of light and ice crystals in the atmosphere.

C2 Experiencing a sundog in person is a breathtaking sight that never fails to amaze me.

Examples of sundog in a Sentence

formal The sundog phenomenon occurs when ice crystals in the atmosphere refract sunlight, creating bright spots on either side of the sun.

informal Hey, did you see that cool sundog in the sky earlier today?

slang I heard some people call sundogs 'sun puppies' because of their playful appearance in the sky.

figurative The sundog of creativity shone brightly in her mind, inspiring a burst of new ideas.

Grammatical Forms of sundog

• plural: sundogs
• comparative: more sundog
• superlative: most sundog
• present tense: sundogs
• future tense: will sundog
• perfect tense: have sundog
• continuous tense: is sundogging
• singular: sundog
• positive degree: sundog
• infinitive: to sundog
• gerund: sundogging
• participle: sundogged

Origin and Evolution of sundog

First Known Use: 1656 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'sundog' originates from the belief that these bright spots in the sky were caused by dogs following or chasing the sun.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'sundog' has become commonly used in meteorology to refer to atmospheric optical phenomena that occur on either side of the sun.