WordLens

nadir

1 of 1noun
/ˈneɪdɪr/
Forms:nadirs
1

the moment in which a situation or life is at its lowest or worst

  • After losing his job and his home, he felt he had reached the nadir of his life.
  • The company's profits hit their nadir during the financial crisis.
  • She realized she was at her emotional nadir after the breakup.
  • His health reached its nadir after months of neglect and stress.
  • The team's performance hit a nadir last season, with the fewest wins in years.
2

the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, exactly opposite the zenith

  • At local midnight on the equinox, the sun stands at its nadir—90° below the horizon.
  • The satellite's camera was configured for nadir viewing to capture vertical ground imagery.
  • Navigators mark the nadir on their star charts to orient telescopes toward the Earth.
  • During the simulation, virtual meteors were tracked from zenith through to their nadir.
  • Astronomers measure atmospheric glow by comparing zenith readings with those from the nadir.
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