constellation

IPA/ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃn/
KK[kˌɑnstəlˈeʃən]IPA/ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃn/

constellation — noun

  • constellationsingular
  • constellationsplural

1. a named shape made by stars as they appear from Earth.

1.nounB2
Definition

a named shape made by stars as they appear from Earth.

Example

Gabriel traced the Orion constellation on the classroom wall map.

named constellation in an astronomy context

On the camping trip, Yara spotted a new constellation above the lake.

Common collocations
  • identify a constellation
  • zodiac constellation
  • constellation map
  • named constellation
Synonyms
  • asterism

    More technical; often used for a visible star pattern that may not be an official constellation.

  • star pattern

    Plain descriptive phrase rather than a formal astronomy term.

Grammar Patterns

named constellation

constellation of + stars

Usage Note

Usually used for one of the named star figures recognized in astronomy, often with a proper name such as Orion or Leo. It describes the pattern people see in the sky, not a single star.

Common Mistakes

The Milky Way is a constellation.
The Milky Way is a galaxy.
A constellation is a named star pattern, not a whole galaxy.

2. a set of people, ideas, or qualities seen as one connected whole.

2.nounC1
Definition

a set of people, ideas, or qualities seen as one connected whole.

Example

The museum gathered a constellation of local artists in one small hall.

constellation of + people

Cough, fever, and rash formed a worrying constellation of symptoms.

constellation of + related signs

Common collocations
  • constellation of artists
  • constellation of symptoms
  • constellation of ideas
  • constellation of qualities
Synonyms
  • cluster

    Suggests items close together; often more physical or technical than constellation.

  • grouping

    Neutral word for things arranged or noticed together.

  • array

    Often emphasizes a wide range laid out for attention.

Grammar Patterns

constellation of + noun

Usage Note

Most often followed by `of` plus the people, ideas, or features in the group. This use is figurative, so it talks about related elements gathered in one view rather than stars in the sky.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For the sky meaning, constellation is the standard word for a named pattern of stars recognized from Earth. Asterism is more technical and often refers to a visible shape such as the Big Dipper, whether or not it is an official constellation. A star cluster is different again: it is a real group of stars close together in space, not mainly a pattern seen by observers. Zodiac sign belongs to astrology and everyday horoscopes, so it often points to a person's birth sign rather than the physical pattern in the sky. If you are talking about astronomy class, use constellation; if you mean a horoscope label, use zodiac sign instead.

asterismstar clusterzodiac sign

Common collocations

Phrases

  • constellation of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Constellation came into English from Latin constellatio, a word built around stella meaning 'star'. It first referred to named star figures in the sky, and English later extended it to figurative groups of related people, ideas, or qualities seen together.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1