Ursa Major Definition

ûrsə

noun

A prominent N constellation between Lynx and Draco: it contains more than 50 visible stars, seven of which form the Big Dipper; the Great Bear or the Bear.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
great-bear

pronoun

(astronomy) A large circumpolar constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a bear. It includes the familiar asterism the Big Dipper and the stars Mizar, Dubhe, and Alkaid.

Wiktionary

Origin of Ursa Major

Middle English from Latin Ursa Māior ursa she-bear, bear feminine of ursus bear ursine māior greater major

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin ursa maior, the "greater bear"

From Wiktionary