polaris
polaris — noun
1. a star in the northern sky that stays almost in the same spot while other stars
a star in the northern sky that stays almost in the same spot while other stars appear to move around it, making it a reliable guide for finding north when travelling at night
On clear nights, Liang used Polaris to show his younger sister which way was north.
used to show direction at night
During a sailing trip across the Atlantic, the captain checked Polaris each evening.
check Polaris — navigation routine
Kofi learned to identify Polaris during his first astronomy lesson at school.
An Icelandic taxi driver said Polaris helped him find his way through the snow.
Early sailors used Polaris to stay on course when no land was in sight.
- North Star
more common in everyday speech; the term most learners will hear first
- Pole Star
slightly more formal and literary; less frequent in daily conversation
用法筆記
Polaris is a proper noun and is always capitalised. It is also commonly called the North Star or the Pole Star in everyday conversation.