constellation

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See also: constellâtion

English[edit]

Broom icon.svg A user suggests that this entry be cleaned up, giving the reason: “astronomy sense: the word constellation also referred - and maybe refers - to other regions than the "88 officially recognized regions" as in "Harpa Georgii, or the Harp of George, is a new constellation ..."”.
Please see the discussion on Requests for cleanup(+) for more information and remove this template after the problem has been dealt with.

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English constellacioun, constillacioun, from Middle French constellation, from Latin constellātiō, from cōn ‎(“with”) + stēlla ‎(“star, astral body”).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌkɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌkɑn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/
  • Hyphenation: con‧stel‧la‧tion
  • Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun[edit]

constellation ‎(plural constellations)

  1. An asterism, an arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or pattern.
  2. An image associated with a group of stars.
  3. (astronomy) Any of the 88 officially recognized regions of the sky, including all stars and celestial bodies in the region.
    • 1824, Astronomical Recreations; or, Sketches of the Relative Position and Mythological History of the Constellations, Philadelphia, p. 78:
      Harpa Georgii, or the Harp of George, is a new constellation introduced on the maps by one of the German astronomers, in honour of the late king of England, George III.
  4. (astrology) The configuration of planets at a given time (notably of birth), as used for determining a horoscope.
  5. (figuratively) A wide, seemingly unlimited assortment.
    • A constellation of possibilities.
    • 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion[1]:
      Throughout the 1500s, the populace roiled over a constellation of grievances of which the forest emerged as a key focal point. The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.
  6. (spaceflight) a fleet of satellites of the same purpose (such as the set of GPS satellites, or Iridium satcom fleet)
  7. A configuration or grouping.
    • Your computer's software constellation helps you do your work faster.
Synonyms[edit]

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Translations[edit]

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Translations to be checked

See also[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French constellation, from Latin constellātiō, from cōn ‎(“with”) + stēlla ‎(“star, astral body”)

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /kɔ̃s.tɛ.la.sjɔ̃/

Noun[edit]

constellation f ‎(plural constellations)

  1. constellation (all senses)

Related terms[edit]

External links[edit]

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