Lodestar definition

lōdstär

A star, such as Polaris, that is used as a point of navigational reference.

noun

A guiding principle or ideal.

noun

A star, especially Polaris, that is used as a point of reference.

A principle, interest, or person that serves as a guide.

noun

A star by which one directs one's course; esp., the North Star.

noun

A star used as a navigation reference, particularly a pole star such as Polaris.

noun

A guiding tenet or principle.

noun

Other Word Forms

Singular:

lodestar

Plural:

lodestars

Middle English lodesterre lode way lode sterre star star

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From lode (“journey, course") +"Ž star, where lode is an archaic noun from the verb lithe (“to go, journey"), related to lead. Cognate with Old Norse leiðarstjarna, German Leitstern, Swedish ledstjärna. English from the 14th century as loode sterre, lood-sterre, lade-sterne, 15th century lode sterre, 16th century lode starre.

From Wiktionary