sun
/sʌn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
the star at the center of our solar system that gives Earth light and heat.
- The sun was bright this morning.
- Plants need sunlight from the sun.
verb
to dry or warm something in sunlight, or to spend time in the sun.
- We sun the clothes on the balcony.
- They sunbathed by the pool.
Adinary Nuance
Sun is the everyday word for the star in our sky. Use sunlight for the light it gives, and sunshine for bright, pleasant sunny weather. Sun is also common in verbs like sunbathe and in phrases like the sun came out.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mặt trời
- Spanish
- sol
- Chinese
- 太阳
- Japanese
- 太陽
- Korean
- 태양
Etymology
Old English sunne, from Proto-Germanic. It is very old in English and has kept its core meaning for centuries.
Common phrases
the sun shinessun protectionsunrise and sunsetunder the sun
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between sun and sunlight?
- The **sun** is the star itself. **Sunlight** is the light that comes from it.
- Is sun a common word in English?
- Yes. It is a very common everyday word in speech and writing.
- Can I say sun for hot weather?
- Not usually. Say **sunny weather** or **strong sunshine** instead.