constellation
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++con·stel·la·tion /ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/ noun [countable] 1 HAa group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name 星座 a star in the constellation of Orion 猎户座的一颗恒星2 a constellation of something literaryGROUP OF PEOPLEGROUP OF THINGS a group of people or things that are similar 一群〔相似的人〕；一系列〔相似的事物〕 a constellation of ideas 一系列想法
Examples from the Corpus
constellation• No, what I am looking at are the first direct signals to reach me from the dark constellation of Serafin.• In a moment I saw that they formed the outlines of the familiar constellations.• Individual constellations of these requirements are infinitely varied, of course.• His chest and cheek the most repulsive sight, a negative constellation of buckshot bruises.• Much the most celebrated object in the constellation is Omicron Ceti or Mira, the prototype long-period variable.• This hulking Atlas is carrying the universe upon his shoulders, a hollow orb ringed with the constellations of the celestial sphere.• In principle these constellations are knowable, and criminal behaviour fully predictable.Origin constellation (1300-1400) Old French Late Latin constellatio, from Latin com- ( → COM-) + stella “star”con·stel·la·tion nounChineseSyllable
a group stars and of Corpus pattern a particular forms has that
constellation
con‧stel‧la‧tion /ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/
noun [countable]
a star in the constellation of Orion
2. a constellation of something literary a group of people or things that are similar:
a constellation of ideas
■ in the sky
▪star a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.
▪planet one of the large objects that goes around the sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars: The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.
▪sun the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe: The sun came out from behind a cloud. | a dying sun
▪moon the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet: The moon rose in the night sky. | Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.
▪asteroid a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars: the asteroid belt
▪pulsar a type of star that is far away in space and produces radiation and RADIO WAVES
▪quasar an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightly
▪supernova a very large exploding star
▪constellation a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name: The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.
▪galaxy one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe: Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.
▪the universe all space, including all the stars and planets: How many planets in the universe have life?
con‧stel‧la‧tion /ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/
noun [countable] Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: Late Latin constellatio, from Latin com- ( ⇨ COM-) + stella 'star'
1. a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name:Language: Old French
Origin: Late Latin constellatio, from Latin com- ( ⇨ COM-) + stella 'star'
2. a constellation of something literary a group of people or things that are similar:
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