horizon

B1 Topic:Astronomy & Space

US /həˈɹaɪ.zən/ See IPA manual

Freq #6975

Meanings

1

noun
The line in the distance where the sky seems to meet the land or sea.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon.
2

noun
The limit of your knowledge, experience, or interest.

Travelling abroad really broadened my horizons.
3

noun
The range of things that can be expected or imagined.

New opportunities are appearing on the horizon.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the line in the distance... skyline

3 noun · the range of things that... view

Word family

Forms horizons

Derived forms a-horizonantihorizoncircumhorizonhorizonalhorizonlesshorizonwardhorizonwardssubhorizonsuperhorizonunhorizoned

Related forms aoristhorizontal vertical

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

sensible horizon
the apparent line where the land or sea meets the sky

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Horizon entered English in the late Middle English period through late Latin horizon, from Greek horizōn (kuklos), meaning “limiting (circle).”

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English orisonte, orisoun, from Middle French horizon, horizonte, from Old French orisonte, orison, via Latin horizōn, from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων (horízōn), from ὅρος (hóros, “boundary”).

orisonte Middle English horizon Middle French horizōn Latin ὁρίζων Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Astronomy & Space Nature & Landscape

External links

# horizon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /həˈɹaɪ.zən/
**Frequency rank:** 6975

## Meanings
1. The line in the distance where the sky seems to meet the land or sea.
2. The limit of your knowledge, experience, or interest.
3. The range of things that can be expected or imagined.

## Examples
- The sun slowly sank below the horizon.
- Travelling abroad really broadened my horizons.
- New opportunities are appearing on the horizon.

## Derived Forms
- a-horizon
- antihorizon
- circumhorizon
- horizonal
- horizonless
- horizonward
- horizonwards
- subhorizon
- superhorizon
- unhorizoned

## Related Forms
- aorist
- horizontal
- vertical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: orisonte
- Root: horizon
- Root: horizōn
- Root: ὁρίζων

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English orisonte, orisoun, from Middle French horizon, horizonte, from Old French orisonte, orison, via Latin horizōn, from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων (horízōn), from ὅρος (hóros, “boundary”).

## AI Etymology
Horizon is inherited from Middle English orisonte, orisoun, from Middle French horizon, horizonte, from Old French orisonte, orison, via Latin horizōn, from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων (horízōn), from ὅρος (hóros, “boundary”). In current use, the main senses are “The line in the distance where the sky seems to meet the land or sea” and “The limit of your knowledge, experience, or interest”.

## Topics
- Astronomy & Space
- Nature & Landscape

markdown