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constellation
[ kon-stuh-ley-shuhn ]
noun
- Astronomy.
- any of various groups of stars to which definite names have been given, as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Boötes, Cancer, Orion.
- the section of the heavens occupied by such a group.
- Astrology.
- the grouping or relative position of the stars as supposed to influence events, especially at a person's birth.
- Obsolete. character as presumed to be determined by the stars.
- a group or configuration of ideas, feelings, characteristics, objects, etc., that are related in some way:
a constellation of qualities that made her particularly suited to the job.
- any brilliant, outstanding group or assemblage:
a constellation of great scientists.
constellation
/ -trɪ; kənˈstɛlətərɪ; ˌkɒnstɪˈleɪʃən /
noun
- any of the 88 groups of stars as seen from the earth and the solar system, many of which were named by the ancient Greeks after animals, objects, or mythological persons
- an area on the celestial sphere containing such a group
- a gathering of brilliant or famous people or things
- psychoanal a group of ideas felt to be related
constellation
/ kŏn′stə-lā′shən /
- A group of stars seen as forming a figure or design in the sky, especially one of 88 officially recognized groups, many of which are based on mythological traditions from ancient Greek and Middle Eastern civilizations.
- An area of the sky occupied by one of the 88 recognized constellations. These irregularly defined areas completely fill the celestial sphere and divide it into nonoverlapping sections used in describing the location of celestial objects.
constellation
- An easily recognized group of stars that appear to be located close together in the sky and that form a picture if lines connecting them are imagined. Constellations are usually named after an animal, a character from mythology , or a common object. ( See Big Dipper , Ursa Major , and Ursa Minor .)
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Derived Forms
- constellatory, adjective
- ˌconstelˈlational, adjective
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Other Words From
- con·stel·la·to·ry [k, uh, n-, stel, -, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
- subcon·stel·lation noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of constellation1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of constellation1
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A Closer Look
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Example Sentences
HL Tauri is about 450 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus.
Today, all that remains of these Jewish holiday centers is a constellation of derelict buildings.
By the end of the book the stars converge into a constellation.
The political constellation is dotted with a range of parties representing different interests, with overlap between them.
In France, a whole constellation of (relatively) young thinkers are transforming it: Foucault, Althusser, Deleuze, etc.
Although eclipsed in show by some present, theirs was a new constellation, and they must support observation as they could.
After death his spirit appeared at certain times and seasons as a planet, star, or constellation.
What's your price on a whole constellation with a lovers' moon thrown in?
It is not easy to guess why this constellation should have been called the Bear.
The first star of which the distance was calculated is in this constellation.
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