Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Star

Star

(stär)
,
Noun.
[OE.
sterre
, AS.
steorra
; akin to OFries.
stera
, OS.
sterro
, D.
ster
, OHG.
sterno
,
sterro
, G.
stern
, Icel.
stjarna
, Sw.
stjerna
, Dan.
stierne
, Goth.
staírnō
, Armor. & Corn.
steren
, L.
stella
, Gr.
ἀστήρ
,
ἄστρον
, Skr.
star
; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter, Skr.
stṛ
, L.
sternere
(cf.
Stratum
), and originally applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as being scatterers or spreaders of light. √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 nebulae.
His eyen twinkled in his head aright,
As do the
stars
in the frosty night.
Chaucer.
☞ 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
.
Shakespeare
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.
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 (
Sapotaceae
) 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
(Zool.)
,
any one of numerous species of stony corals belonging to
Astraea
,
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
(
Scilla autumnalis
); – called also
star-headed hyacinth
.
Star jelly
(Bot.)
,
any one of several gelatinous plants (
Nostoc commune
,
Nostoc edule
, etc.). See
Nostoc
.
Star lizard
.
(Zool.)
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
(
Plantago 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 stout 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
(Zool.)
,
a gephyrean.
Temporary star
(Astron.)
,
a star which appears suddenly, shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears. These stars were supposed by some astronomers to be variable stars of long and undetermined periods. More recently, variations star in start intensity are classified more specifically, and this term is now obsolescent. See also
nova
.
[Obsolescent]
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

(stär)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Starred
(stärd)
;
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

,
Verb.
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.
W. Irving.

Webster 1828 Edition


Star

STAR

,
Noun.
1.
An apparently small luminous body in the heavens, that appears in the night, or when its light is not obscured by clouds or lost in the brighter effulgence of the sun. Stars are fixed or planetary. The fixed stars are known by their perpetual twinkling, and by their being always in the same position in relation to each other. The planets do not twinkle, and they revolve about the sun. The stars are worlds, and their immense numbers exhibit the astonishing extent of creation and of divine power.
2.
The pole-star. [A particular application, not in use.]
3.
In astrology, a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune. Hence the expression, You may thank your stars for such and such an event.
A pair of star-crossd lovers.
4.
The figure of a star; a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk; thus*; used as a reference to a note in the margin, or to fill a blank in writing or printing where letters are omitted.
5.
In Scripture, Christ is called the bright and morning star, the star that ushers in the light of an eternal day to his people. Revelations 22. Ministers are also called stars in Christs right hand, as, being supported and directed by Christ, they convey light and knowledge to the followers of Christ. Revelations 1. The twelve stars which form the crown of the church, are the twelve apostles. Revelations 12.
6.
The figure of a star; a badge of rank; as stars and garters.
The pole-star, a bright star in the tail of Ursa minor, so called from its being very near the north pole.
Star of Bethlehem, a flower and plant of the genus Ornithogalum. There is also the star of Alexandria, and of Naples, and of Constantinople, of the same genus.

STAR

,
Verb.
T.
To set or adorn with stars or bright radiating bodies; to bespangle; as a robe starred with gems.

Definition 2024


Star

Star

See also: star, står, and Stär

English

Proper noun

Star

  1. A surname.
  2. A hamlet in Alberta, Canada.
  3. A hamlet in England.
  4. A city in Idaho.
  5. A town in North Carolina.
  6. A city in Russia.
  7. A village in Scotland.
  8. A hamlet in Wales.

German

Etymology 1

From Old High German stara, itself akin to Old Norse stari (whence Danish stær and Icelandic stari) and Latin sturnus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃtaːɐ̯/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /ʃtaː/ (common; especially northern and central Germany)
  • Homophone: starr (nonstandard)

Noun

Star m (genitive Stars or Stares, plural Stare)

  1. starling
Declension

Etymology 2

Derived from starr (rigid). Danish stær (cataract) is borrowed from German Star.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃtaːɐ̯/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /ʃtaː/ (common; especially northern and central Germany)
  • Homophone: starr (nonstandard)

Noun

Star m (genitive Stars or Stares, plural Stare)

  1. cataract (an eye disease, leucoma)
Declension

Etymology 3

Borrowing from English star.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /staːɐ̯/, /ʃtaːɐ̯/ (standard; the former is more frequent)
  • IPA(key): /staː/, /ʃtaː/ (common; particularly northern and central Germany)

Noun

Star m (genitive Stars, plural Stars)

  1. celebrity
Declension
Derived terms

star

star

See also: Star, står, and Stär

English

Stars (1, 2).
A star shape (3).

Noun

star (plural stars)

  1. Any small luminous dot appearing in the cloudless portion of the night sky, especially with a fixed location relative to other such dots.
  2. (astronomy) A luminous celestial body, made up of plasma (particularly hydrogen and helium) and having a spherical shape. Depending on context the sun may or may not be included.
  3. (geometry) A concave polygon with regular, pointy protrusions and indentations, generally with five or six points.
  4. (acting) An actor in a leading role.
    Many Hollywood stars attended the launch party.
  5. An exceptionally talented or famous person, often in a specific field; a celebrity.
    His teacher tells us he is a star pupil.
    • 1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, The Bat, chapterI:
      Star reporter, leg-man, cub, veteran gray in the trade—one and all they tried to pin the Bat like a caught butterfly to the front page of their respective journals—soon or late each gave up, beaten. He was news []the brief, staccato recital of his career in the morgues of the great dailies grew longer and more incredible each day.
  6. (printing) An asterisk (*).
  7. A symbol used to rate hotels, films, etc. with a higher number of stars denoting better quality.
  8. A simple dance, or part of a dance, where a group of four dancers each put their right or left hand in the middle and turn around in a circle. You call them right-hand stars or left-hand stars, depending on the hand which is in the middle.
  9. (astrology) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny.
    What's in the stars for you today? Find out in our horoscope.
  10. A star-shaped ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honour.
  11. A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.

Synonyms

  • (astronomy): * (abbreviation)

Derived terms

Hyponyms

  • Wikisaurus:star

Descendants

Translations

Verb

star (third-person singular simple present stars, present participle starring, simple past and past participle starred)

  1. (intransitive) To appear as a featured performer or headliner, especially in an entertainment program.
  2. (transitive) To feature a performer or a headliner, especially in a movie or an entertainment program.
  3. (transitive) To mark with a star or asterisk.
  4. (transitive) To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle.
    • Young
      A sable curtain starred with gold.

Translations

See also

Anagrams


Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɑr

Adjective

star (comparative starder, superlative starst)

  1. stiff, frozen
  2. rigid

Inflection

Inflection of star
uninflected star
inflected starre
comparative starder
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial star starder het starst
het starste
indefinite m./f. sing. starre stardere starste
n. sing. star starder starste
plural starre stardere starste
definite starre stardere starste
partitive stars starders

French

Etymology

From English.

Pronunciation

Noun

star f (plural stars)

  1. star (celebrity)
    Elle est devenue star. - she's become a star.

Derived terms

Anagrams


Italian

Etymology

Borrowing from English [Term?].

Noun

star f (invariable)

  1. star (celebrity)

Mirandese

Etymology

From Latin stāre.

Verb

star

  1. to be (indicates a temporary state)

See also


Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

star m (definite singular staren, indefinite plural starar, definite plural starane)

  1. alternative form of stare

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *starъ.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /stâr/

Adjective

stȁr (definite stȃrī, comparative stàrijī, Cyrillic spelling ста̏р)

  1. old

Declension

Derived terms


Slovene

Etymology

From Proto-Slavic *starъ.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈstár/
  • Tonal orthography: stȁr

Adjective

stàr (comparative starêjši, superlative nàjstarêjši)

  1. old, aged
    Star sem dvajset let.
    I'm twenty years old.

Declension

This adjective needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms


Venetian

Etymology

From Latin stāre, present active infinitive of stō. Compare Italian stare

Verb

star

  1. (transitive) To stay or remain
  2. (transitive) To live (somewhere)

Conjugation

  • Venetian conjugation varies from one region to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.