constellation 
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con·stel·la·tion (kän′stə lā′s̸hən)
noun
- a group of stars in the sky, usually named after some object, animal, or mythological being that it supposedly resembles or suggests
- the area of the sky assigned to such a group of stars: currently the sky is considered to have 88 constellations
- any brilliant cluster, gathering, or collection
- Astrol. the grouping of celestial bodies at any particular time, esp. at a person's birth
- Psychol. a group of related thoughts or feelings regarded as clustered about one central idea
Etymology: ME constellacion < OFr < LL constellatio < constellatus, set with stars < L com-, with + pp. of stellare, to shine < stella, star
Related Forms:
- constellatory con·stel′·la·to′ry (kən stel′ə tôr′ē) adjective
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
constellation
n.
Commonly recognized constellations include: Southern Cross, Orion, Cancer, Taurus, Big Dipper, Ursa Major, Great Bear, Little Dipper, Little Bear, Ursa Minor, Leo, Leo Minor, Draco, Pegasus, Aries, Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Cygnus, Pictor, Pisces;
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Converse of object
- recognize: Early astrologers recognized only one constellation of ' the Dog ' , that which we call Canis Major today.
Adjective modifier
- zodiacal: A very definite sense of place arises from living within a Zodiacal constellation.
Modifies a noun
- ophiuchus: From the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus, near to Scorpius.
Noun used with modifier
- zodiac: The constellation is one of the twelve zodiac constellations.
Preposition: in
- sky: The ninth largest constellation in the sky, over 100 of its stars are visible to the unaided eye.
Preposition: of
- zodiac: They are, essentially, the constellations of the zodiac.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
New York is one of the capitals of the world and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic. San Francisco is a lady, Boston has become Urban Renewal, Philadelphia and Baltimore and Washington blink like dull diamonds in the smog of Eastern Megalopolis, and New Orleans is unremarkable past the French Quarter. Detroit is a one- trade town, Pittsburgh has lost its golden triangle. St Louis has become the golden arch of the corporation, and nights in Kansas City close early. The oil depletion allowance makes Houston and Dallas naught but checkerboards for this sort of game. But Chicago is a great American city. Perhaps it is the last of the great American cities.
Wer zeigt ein Kind, so wie es steht? Wer stellt es ins Gestirn und gibt das MaÞ des Abstands ihm in die Hand? Who shows a child as he really is? Who sets him in his constellation and puts the measuring-rod of distance in his hand?
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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MLA Style
"constellation." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/constellation>
APA Style
constellation. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/constellation
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