|
|
| |
Definitions for: Star
[n] a star-shaped character * used in printing
[n] (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
[n] any celestial body visible (as a point of light) from the Earth at night
[n] someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
[n] a performer who receives prominent billing
[n] an actor who plays a principal role
[n] a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
[v] mark with an asterisk; "Linguists star unacceptable sentences"
[v] be the star in a performance
[v] feature as the star; of artistic performances
Webster (1913) Definition: Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to
OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G.
stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth.
sta['i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. 'asth`r,
'a`stron, Skr. star; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter,
Skr. st[.r], L. sternere (cf. Stratum), and originally
applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as
being scatterers or spreaders of light. [root]296. Cf.
Aster, Asteroid, Constellation, Disaster, Stellar.]
1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the
heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon,
comets, and nebul[ae].
His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the
stars in the frosty night. --Chaucer.
Note: The stars are distinguished as planets, and {fixed
stars}. See Planet, Fixed stars under Fixed, and
Magnitude of a star under Magnitude.
2. The polestar; the north star. --Shak.
3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny;
(usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to
influence fortune.
O malignant and ill-brooding stars. --Shak.
Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury. --Addison.
4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament
worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor.
On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars.
--Tennyson.
5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an
asterisk [thus, *]; -- used as a reference to a note, or
to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.
6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in
the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding
in the air, presents a starlike appearance.
7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially
on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading
theatrical performer, etc.
Note: Star is used in the formation of compound words
generally of obvious signification: as, star-aspiring,
star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting,
star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed,
star-headed, star-paved, star-roofed; star-sprinkled,
star-wreathed.
Blazing star, Double star, Multiple star, {Shooting
star}, etc. See under Blazing, Double, etc.
Nebulous star (Astron.), a small well-defined circular
nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star.
Star anise (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; -- so
called from its star-shaped capsules.
Star apple (Bot.), a tropical American tree ({Chrysophyllum
Cainito}), having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a
silky-golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike
fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure when
cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of
about sixty species, and the natural order
(Sapotace[ae]) to which it belongs is called the
Star-apple family.
Star conner, one who cons, or studies, the stars; an
astronomer or an astrologer. --Gascoigne.
Star coral (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of stony
corals belonging to Astr[ae]a, Orbicella, and allied
genera, in which the calicles are round or polygonal and
contain conspicuous radiating septa.
Star cucumber. (Bot.) See under Cucumber.
Star flower. (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the genus Ornithogalum;
star-of-Bethlehem.
(b) See Starwort
(b) .
(c) An American plant of the genus Trientalis
(Trientalis Americana). --Gray.
Star fort (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with
projecting angles; -- whence the name.
Star gauge (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points
projecting radially at its end, for measuring the size of
different parts of the bore of a gun.
Star grass. (Bot.)
(a) A small grasslike plant (Hypoxis erecta) having
star-shaped yellow flowers.
(b) The colicroot. See Colicroot.
Star hyacinth (Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus Scilla
(S. autumnalis); -- called also star-headed hyacinth.
Star jelly (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants
(Nostoc commune, N. edule, etc.). See Nostoc.
Star lizard. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Stellion.
Star-of-Bethlehem (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant
(Ornithogalum umbellatum) having a small white starlike
flower.
Star-of-the-earth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Plantago
(P. coronopus), growing upon the seashore.
Star polygon (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other
so as to form a star-shaped figure.
Stars and Stripes, a popular name for the flag of the
United States, which consists of thirteen horizontal
stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in
a blue field, white stars to represent the several States,
one for each.
With the old flag, the true American flag, the
Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the
chamber in which we sit. --D. Webster.
Star showers. See Shooting star, under Shooting.
Star thistle (Bot.), an annual composite plant ({Centaurea
solstitialis}) having the involucre armed with radiating
spines.
Star wheel (Mach.), a star-shaped disk, used as a kind of
ratchet wheel, in repeating watches and the feed motions
of some machines.
Star worm (Zo["o]l.), a gephyrean.
Temporary star (Astron.), a star which appears suddenly,
shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears.
These stars are supposed by some astronometers to be
variable stars of long and undetermined periods.
Variable star (Astron.), a star whose brilliancy varies
periodically, generally with regularity, but sometimes
irregularly; -- called periodical star when its changes
occur at fixed periods.
Water star grass (Bot.), an aquatic plant ({Schollera
graminea}) with small yellow starlike blossoms.
Star (st[aum]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Starred
(st[aum]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Starring.]
To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to
bespangle; as, a robe starred with gems. ``A sable curtain
starred with gold.'' --Young.
Star, v. i.
To be bright, or attract attention, as a star; to shine like
a star; to be brilliant or prominent; to play a part as a
theatrical star.
Synonyms: ace, adept, asterisk, asterisk, genius, headliner, hotshot, lead, maven, principal, sensation, virtuoso, whiz, whizz, wiz, wizard
See Also: actor, Alpha Crucis, asterism, Asterope, Beta Centauri, Beta Crucis, binary, binary star, celestial body, character, constellation, co-star, co-star, co-star, Deneb, Denebola, do, double star, execute, expert, extragalactic nebula, feature, film star, fixed star, galaxy, giant, giant star, grapheme, graphic symbol, have, heavenly body, hexagram, histrion, idol, loadstar, lodestar, mark, matinee idol, movie star, multiple star, neutron star, nova, pentacle, pentagram, perform, performer, performing artist, plane figure, player, Pollux, red dwarf, red dwarf star, red giant, red giant star, Regulus, role player, Spica, Sterope, sun, supergiant, supernova, television star, thespian, track star, TV star, two-dimensional figure, variable, variable star, white dwarf, white dwarf star
|
|
Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder
Scrabble Cheat
Words With Friends Cheat
Hanging With Friends Cheat
Scramble With Friends Cheat
Ruzzle Cheat
Related Resources:
animlas that start with c
animals beginning with p
animlas that start with c
|
