nadir.

1. The direction or point vertically beneath an observer, opposite the zenith.

2. The worst or lowest stage in someone's fortunes or a developing situation.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• nadir-facing camera
• toward the nadir

On the page

The nadir-facing camera tracked the storm beneath the ship.

She turned the instrument toward the nadir to inspect the ice.

Usage notes

Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: Singular nadir; plural nadirs. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.