constellation
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
con·stel·la·tion
(kŏn′stə-lā′shən)n.
1. Astronomy
a. A grouping of stars on the celestial sphere perceived as a figure or design, especially one of the 88 recognized groups named after characters from classical Greek and Roman mythology as well as various common animals and objects.
b. An area of the celestial sphere occupied by one of the 88 recognized constellations.
2. The configuration of planets at the time of one's birth, regarded by astrologers as determining one's character or fate.
3. A gathering or assemblage, especially of prominent persons or things: The symposium was attended by a constellation of artists and writers.
4. A set or configuration, as of related items, properties, ideas, or individuals: a constellation of demands ranging from better food to improved health care; a constellation of feelings about the divorce.
[Middle English constellacioun, from Old French constellation, from Late Latin cōnstēllātiō, cōnstēllātiōn- : Latin com-, com- + Latin stēlla, star; see ster- in Indo-European roots.]
con·stel′la·to′ry (-stĕl′ə-tôr′ē) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
constellation
(ˌkɒnstɪˈleɪʃən)n
1. (Astronomy)
a. 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
b. an area on the celestial sphere containing such a group
2. a gathering of brilliant or famous people or things
3. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal a group of ideas felt to be related
[C14: from Late Latin constellātiō, from Latin com- together + stella star]
ˌconstelˈlational adj
constellatory adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con•stel•la•tion
(ˌkɒn stəˈleɪ ʃən)n.
1.
a. any of various named groups of stars, as Ursa Major, Boötes, or Orion.
b. the section of the heavens occupied by such a group.
2. the astrological grouping of the heavenly bodies, esp. at a person's birth.
3. a group of ideas, qualities, etc., related in some way.
4. any brilliant, outstanding group or assemblage: a constellation of great writers.
[1275–1325; < Anglo-French < Late Latin constellātiō position of the stars at a person's birth or conception]
con•stel•la•to•ry (kənˈstɛl əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
constellation
Diagram of the constellation Orion. Betelgeuse, the large, reddish star, is the coolest star in the constellation; Rigel, the large, bluish-white star, is the hottest. Orion's belt can be seen in the middle of the figure.
con·stel·la·tion
(kŏn′stə-lā′shən)1. A group of stars seen as forming a figure or design in the sky, especially one of 88 recognized groups.
2. An area of the celestial sphere occupied by one of the 88 recognized constellations.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
constellation
A number of like satellites that are part of a system. Satellites in a constellation generally have a similar orbit. For example, the Global Positioning System constellation consists of 24 satellites distributed in six orbital planes with similar eccentricities, altitudes, and inclinations. See also global positioning system.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
Constellation
a fixed group of stars; an assembly of great splendour; a group of famous people; a fixed pattern of individual elements functioning in a related way.Examples: constellation of fair ladies, 1665; of genius; of computer programs; of prophets, 1860; of stars; of wax lights, 1739.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
constellation
An apparent grouping of prominent stars. Stars have been divided into the artificial groups called constellations for over 2000 years.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | constellation - an arrangement of parts or elements; "the outcome depends on the configuration of influences at the time" design, plan - an arrangement scheme; "the awkward design of the keyboard made operation difficult"; "it was an excellent design for living"; "a plan for seating guests" redundancy - (electronics) a system design that duplicates components to provide alternatives in case one component fails network topology, topology - the configuration of a communication network chunking, unitisation, unitization - (psychology) the configuration of smaller units of information into large coordinated units |
2. | constellation - a configuration of stars as seen from the earth natural object - an object occurring naturally; not made by man asterism - (astronomy) a cluster of stars (or a small constellation) star - (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
مَجْموعَة نُجوم، كَوكَبَه
souhvězdí
stjernebillede
tähtkuju
tähdistötähtikuvio
konstalacijasazvijēžđezviježđe
csillagzat
stjörnusamstæîa; stjörnumerki
žvaigždynas
zvaigznājs
súhvezdie
burçtakım yıldız
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
constellation
n → Sternbild nt, → Konstellation f (also fig)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
constellation
(konstəˈleiʃən) noun a named group of stars. The Plough and Orion are constellations.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.