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constellation

noun
con·​stel·​la·​tion | \ ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce constellation (audio) \

Definition of constellation

1 : the configuration of stars especially at one's birth
2 : any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations the constellation Orion
3 : an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things … a constellation of … relatives, friends, and hangers-on …— Brendan Gill a constellation of symptoms
4 : pattern, arrangement … taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world.— H. D. Lasswell
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Other Words from constellation

constellatory \ kən-​ˈste-​lə-​ˌtȯr-​ē How to pronounce constellatory (audio) \ adjective

Examples of constellation in a Sentence

The constellation Ursa Major contains the stars of the Big Dipper. A large constellation of relatives and friends attended the funeral. The patient presented a constellation of symptoms.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The intriguing world, which goes by the impersonal designation K2-18b, lies 110 light-years away in the constellation Leo. — Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "Scientists say they found their first potentially habitable planet with water in its skies," 12 Sep. 2019 The intriguing world, which goes by the impersonal designation K2-18b, lies 110 light-years away in the constellation Leo. — oregonlive, "First evidence of water found in atmosphere of planet K2-18b," 11 Sep. 2019 Found by Kepler in 2015, the world nestles in a 33-day orbit around a dim, cool red dwarf star some 110 light-years away, in the constellation of Leo. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, "Astronomers Find Water on an Exoplanet Twice the Size of Earth," 11 Sep. 2019 There’s another beautiful globular cluster not all that far away from M-13 in the constellation Hercules the Hero that’s also fairly easy to find. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, "Mike Lynch: Celestial congestion of Hercules Cluster is a treasure," 8 Sep. 2019 The company built 18 of the 31 satellites in the current GPS constellation. — William Harwood, CBS News, "Rocket launches GPS satellite into orbit for U.S. Air Force," 22 Aug. 2019 One satellite in the AEHF constellation will have more capacity than the entire set of MILSTAR satellites, according to the launching agency United Launch Alliance. — Doug Phillips, sun-sentinel.com, "Atlas V rocket launch lights up South Florida’s pre-dawn sky | Video," 8 Aug. 2019 Romesberg was one of the top stars in the constellation that is Scripps Research. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Star scientist leaves Scripps Research under mysterious circumstances," 8 Aug. 2019 The meteors will appear to radiate out of the star Delta Aquarii, in the constellation Aquarius (which takes the form of a guy pouring out a jug of water). — Brian Resnick, Vox, "The Delta Aquariid meteor shower happens Monday night. Here’s how to watch.," 29 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'constellation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of constellation

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for constellation

Middle English constellacioun, from Anglo-French constellation, from Late Latin constellation-, constellatio, from Latin com- + stella star — more at star

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More Definitions for constellation

constellation

noun
How to pronounce constellation (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of constellation

: a group of stars that forms a particular shape in the sky and has been given a name
formal : a group of people or things that are similar in some way

See the full definition for constellation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

constellation

noun
con·​stel·​la·​tion | \ ˌkän-stə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce constellation (audio) \

Kids Definition of constellation

: any of 88 named groups of stars forming patterns

constellation

noun
con·​stel·​la·​tion | \ ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce constellation (audio) \

Medical Definition of constellation

: a set of ideas, conditions, symptoms, or traits that fall into or appear to fall into a pattern: as
a : a group of stimulus conditions or factors affecting personality and behavior development the way in which family constellation and handling of punishment influenced this particular boy— S. B. Sarason
b : a group of behavioral or personality traits

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