constellation
constellation — noun
- constellationsingular
- constellationsplural
1. a named shape made by stars as they appear from Earth.
a named shape made by stars as they appear from Earth.
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.
The app shows each constellation with lines between its brightest stars.
Takeshi learned which constellation sailors once used to find north.
- 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.
文法句型
named constellation
constellation of + stars
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. a set of people, ideas, or qualities seen as one connected whole.
a set of people, ideas, or qualities seen as one connected whole.
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
The essay links a constellation of ideas about memory and loss.
Patience, humor, and warmth make a constellation of qualities teachers need.
文法句型
constellation of + noun
用法筆記
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.