zodiac

IPA/ˈzəʊdiæk/
KK[zˈodiˌæk]IPA/ˈzəʊdiæk/

zodiac — noun

  • zodiacsingular
  • zodiacsplural

1. the imaginary circle in the heavens that marks the yearly path of the sun, split

1.nounB1
Definition

the imaginary circle in the heavens that marks the yearly path of the sun, split into twelve sections that astrologers call signs, each tied to a specific period of the year

Example

The twelve signs of the zodiac each cover about thirty days of the year.

collocation: signs of the zodiac

Romi asked the astrologer which sign of the zodiac she belonged to.

Common collocations
  • signs of the zodiac
  • zodiac sign
  • through the zodiac
  • zodiac year

Usage Note

Usually used with the definite article (the zodiac). This sense refers to the astronomical band itself, not to the daily predictions based on each sign.

Common Mistakes

I read my zodiac every morning.
I read my horoscope every morning.
The zodiac is the band of twelve signs; the prediction for each sign is called a horoscope.

2. a circular illustration that depicts the twelve zodiac signs together with their

2.nounB1
Definition

a circular illustration that depicts the twelve zodiac signs together with their symbols, used in astrology to predict future events or explain someone's nature

Example

The astrologer drew a zodiac on paper before beginning the reading.

collocation: drew a zodiac

A framed zodiac hung on the wall of the small fortune-telling shop.

Common collocations
  • draw a zodiac
  • zodiac chart
  • zodiac diagram

Word family

  • zodiacal
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Zodiac, horoscope, astrology, and constellation are often confused. Zodiac refers to the twelve-sign belt in the sky that astrologers use. Horoscope is a written or spoken prediction based on a person's zodiac sign — you read your horoscope in a newspaper. Astrology is the broader belief system claiming that star and planet positions influence human life. Constellation is an astronomical term for any group of stars forming a pattern; not all constellations are part of the zodiac. For example: 'She checked her horoscope every morning' (prediction), 'Constellations such as Orion are not in the zodiac,' and 'Astrology uses the zodiac to make predictions about your future.'

horoscope ↗astrology ↗constellation ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • of the zodiac

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word zodiac comes from the Greek zōidiakos (kyklos), meaning 'circle of little animals,' because most of the twelve signs are named after animals or mythical creatures. Latin borrowed it as zōdiacus, and it entered English through French in the 1300s.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a