Sirius
i noun
1.
Astronomy. the Dog Star, the brightest-appearing star in the heavens, located in the constellation Canis Major.
2.
Also, Seirios. Classical Mythology.
a.
the dog of Orion.
b.
Icarius' faithful dog, who was changed into a star.
Origin:
1325–75; Middle English < Latin Sīrius < Greek Seírios
1325–75; Middle English < Latin Sīrius < Greek Seírios
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To sirius
Collins
World English Dictionary
Sirius (ˈsɪrɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| the Dog Star, Canicula, Also called: Sothis the brightest star in the sky after the sun, lying in the constellation Canis Major. It is a binary star whose companion, Sirius B, is a very faint white dwarf. Distance: 8.6 light yearsRelated: canicular, cynic | |
| Related: canicular, cynic | |
| [C14: via Latin from Greek Seirios, of obscure origin] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Sirius
is always a great word to know.
So is Libra. Does it mean:
| a zodiacal constellation between Virgo and Serpens also called the Balance |
| the obscuring of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun, a lunar eclipse, or the obscuring of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth, a solar eclipse |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
Sirius
brightest star, late 14c., from Gk. Seirios, lit. "scorching." Probably so called from its ancient heliacal rising at the summer solstice (see dog days). An Egyptian name for it was Sothis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
Sirius  (sĭr'ē-əs) Pronunciation Key
The brightest star seen in the night sky. It is in the constellation Canis Major. It is a white main-sequence star on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, with an apparent magnitude of -1.5. Sirius is a binary star, and its companion is a white dwarf star referred to as the Pup. Sirius is also known as the Dog Star. Scientific name: Alpha Canis. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
