celestial
/səˈlestiəl/ (bre, ipa) · [səlˈɛstʃəl] /səˈlestʃl/ (ame, ipa) · [səlˈɛstʃəl] /sə-ˈles-chəl How to pronounce celestial (audio) -ˈlesh-, -ˈle-stē-əl/ (ame, mw)
celestial — adjective
- celestialpositive
- more celestialcomparative
- most celestialsuperlative
1. connected with the sky, stars, or outer space rather than life on earth
connected with the sky, stars, or outer space rather than life on earth
Liang used a phone app to identify each celestial body above the beach.
collocation: celestial body
The science teacher drew a celestial map before the class camped overnight.
collocation: celestial map
Sky watchers recorded a bright celestial event over the desert at dawn.
A silver celestial glow spread across the lake after the meteor passed.
- astronomical
more technical and used mainly for science, measurement, or research
- cosmic
broader and often suggests the whole universe or something very large
- astral
rarer and more literary or mystical than celestial
- earthly
belonging to life on earth rather than the sky or space
- terrestrial
formal scientific opposite meaning connected with the earth
文法句型
celestial + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns in scientific or literary phrases such as celestial body or celestial map. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about the physical sky or space, not heaven in a religious sense.
2. coming from heaven, or having the pure and holy quality people connect with heav
coming from heaven, or having the pure and holy quality people connect with heaven
The mural showed angels singing in a celestial hall above the clouds.
celestial + noun in a religious image
Hamza said the temple music had a calm, celestial beauty.
predicative shade of divine beauty
In the poem, a celestial voice calls the sailors home.
The painter gave the child a celestial light in the final scene.
文法句型
celestial + noun
be + celestial
用法筆記
Mostly literary or religious. The noun is often something imagined as belonging to heaven, such as light, music, or a voice. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense points to heaven or divinity, not astronomy.
celestial — noun
1. a being from heaven or from myth, such as an angel or a similar figure
a being from heaven or from myth, such as an angel or a similar figure
The legend says a celestial guarded the bridge between two worlds.
a celestial as a countable story figure
Children in the play dressed as celestials with silver wings and crowns.
plural form: celestials
Folake painted a celestial beside the moon in her storybook.
The old tale ends when a celestial carries the lost child home.
文法句型
a celestial
celestials + plural verb
用法筆記
Usually appears in stories, myths, or fantasy writing rather than everyday conversation. It often suggests a being with special power or a link to the heavens.
2. an old word for a person from China, based on the historical name Celestial Empi
an old word for a person from China, based on the historical name Celestial Empire
The museum label explains that Celestial was once used for a Chinese person.
historical label explained directly
In the old newspaper, the writer called the Chinese cook a Celestial.
call someone a Celestial
Ari asked why the novel used Celestial for a man from China.
The guide said the term Celestial came from the name Celestial Empire.
文法句型
call someone a Celestial
use Celestial for + person
用法筆記
Now rare and mainly found in historical writing. Avoid it in modern neutral English; say Chinese person or someone from China instead.