constellation

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˌkɑnstəˈleɪʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure, and whose boundaries are officially defined by the International Astronomical Union.; A group of related or similar things, people, or ideas; a cluster or collection.; An arrangement or configuration of elements, especially one that is striking or notable.; A group of satellites orbiting the Earth or another celestial body, designed to work together as a system.; In astrology, the relative position of the stars and planets at a particular time, believed to influence events and human affairs.; A brilliant or distinguished group of people; an assemblage of luminaries.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: constellations

Collocations

constellation of starsconstellation of satelliteszodiac constellationconstellation of symptomsconstellation of factorsnorthern constellation

Derivatives

constellateconstellatedconstellational

Synonyms

asterismconfigurationarrangementgroupingclusterpattern

Commonly confused

asterism
EN: An asterism is a recognizable star pattern (e.g., the Big Dipper) that may be part of or span multiple constellations, while a constellation is an officially defined region of the sky.
galaxy
EN: A galaxy is a massive system of stars, gas, and dust bound by gravity (e.g., the Milky Way), while a constellation is a perceived pattern of stars as seen from Earth.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the double 'l' in 'constellation' and the '-tion' ending (not '-sion').

💬 Examples

  1. Orion is one of the most easily recognizable constellations in the night sky.

  2. The city attracted a constellation of talented artists and writers.

  3. The constellation of political forces in the region shifted dramatically after the revolution.

  4. The company plans to launch a constellation of hundreds of small satellites to provide global internet coverage.

  5. The astrologer studied the constellation of planets at the moment of the child's birth.

  6. The conference featured a constellation of Nobel laureates and leading scientists.